KNOWLEDGE NEED TOWARD GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE (GAP) FOR MANGO IN SAMKO DISTRICT, ANG THONG PROVINCE

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to study; 1) demographic factors,
2) economic factors, 3) chemical factors, 4) media exposure toward mango plantation, 5) knowledge needs toward good agricultural practices (gap) for mango, and 6) to explore the relationship between demographic factors, economic factors, chemical factors, media exposure and knowledge needs toward gap for mango in Samko district, Ang tTong province. 7) problem and suggestion of farmers toward mango plantation. Samples consisted of 154 mango plantation farmers. Data were collected by using questionnaires. Statistical analysis included frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum. Hypotheses were tested by using chi-square.

Results of this research found that majority of farmers were female with an average age of 54.71 years, attained primary school or below, average family member 4.01 persons, grew average experiences of mango 16.71 years. on the average, farmers plant mangoes 10.30 rais, earned income from mango plantation 136,727.27 baht/year, had expenses from mango plantation 44,862.34 baht/year, used chemical fertilizers 3.14 time/year, used plant growth regulators 0.95 time/year, and used pesticide 15.78 time/yearม getting information about mango via personal media was from neighborhood, specialized media was from meeting. mass media was from television, knowledge needs toward gap for mango was in the moderate level, knowledge needs towards planting areas and quality of production management were in the high level, hypotheses testing showed that gender, experiences in mango cultivation, hired labor, income, expenses, chemical fertilizers using and people media related to knowledge needs toward good agricultural practices for mango at 0.05 level of significance.