CHIANG MAI FRESH MILK MEMBERS’S ACCEPTANCE AND APPLICATION OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR DAIRY FARMING IN LAMPHUN PROVINCE

Abstract

This quantitative research aimed: 1. To study ersonal, socio-economic, psychological information, knowledge and understanding 2. To study the acceptance and application of GAP for dairy farming, 3. To study factors influencing the acceptance and application of GAP for dairy farming and 4. To study problems, obstacles and suggestions regarding the application of GAP for dairy farming. Questionnaire was used for data collection from 170 Chiang Mai fresh milk members group farmers, Lumphun province. Obtained data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics.

The finding revealed that most of the farmers (70.10%) were male with an average age of 47.02 years old, graduated from elementary school (35.50%), and married (75.70%). Farmers raised an average of 51.16 dairy cattle and 2.21 rai of dairy farmland area, with annual income of 945,317.76 baht on average. Farmers have been raising dairy cattle for 12.64 years on average and certified with GAP farm standards for an average of 4.61 years. Farmers’ attitude and motivation of GAP for dairy farming were both at high level (mean 3.96 and 3.86), while they had knowledge of GAP for dairy farming at moderate level (82.24%). Meanwhile, Farmers’ acceptance and application of GAP for dairy farming was at high level (mean 4.27). The study found 1 factor influencing farmer’s acceptance and application of GAP for dairy farming was motivation of GAP for dairy farming. The main problem of GAP for dairy farming were high production cost and insufficient source of roughage. However, the Chiang Mai Fresh Milk Co., Ltd. should implement the promotion of Napier grass growing as a source of roughage for reducing the production costs.