TOBACCO GROWING FOR REDUCING SMOG EFFECT FROM MAIZE STUBBLE BURNING IN UPPER NORTHERN THAILAND

Abstract

Northern Thailand was facing seriously problem of smog effect from maize stubble burning. So, researchers were trying to study and come up with a crop that can be replace with animal feed maize for reduce the smog effect from animal feed maize stubble burning e.g., tobacco. Data were collected by interviewing 378 samples derived from 7,004 animal feed maize growing farmers in Maejam District which is the most animal feed maize growing area in Northern Thailand. Obtained data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics.

The results revealed that, 62.70% of farmers were male with 47.39 years old of average age. Farmers about 55.56% reached primary school. Farmers’ average income from animal feed maize growing was 52,912.70 baht per year in growing area of 9.65 rai on average. Most (91.53%) of farmer had growing area with soil fertility but have not enough natural water resource and had good level in knowledge and understanding of tobacco growing (67.72% 69.58% respectively). Moreover, farmers had moderate level ( =2.85) in readiness of tobacco growing. While had high level in needs of tobacco growing ( =3.73) and had low level in possibility of tobacco growing instead of animal feed maize ( =2.55). Importantly, the study was found 6 factors significantly relating to farmers’ needs of tobacco growing as follows: educational attainment, income from animal feed maize growing, animal feed maize land area, soil, water, and farmers’ readiness.