FACTORS AFFECTING THE RECEIVING CERTIFICATION OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES BY SMALL FARMERS FRUIT GROWERS FOR EXPORT IN CHANTHABURI PROVINCE

Abstract

The study aims to study the factors affecting the receiving certification of good agricultural practices by small farmers fruit growers for export in Chanthaburi province. The population used in the research were 41,613 small farmers who grow durian and were registered as farmers by the Chanthaburi Provincial Agricultural Office with a total sample of 396 small farmers determined by area random sampling and stratified random sampling method. A questionnaire was used as a research tool. Data were analyzed using binary logistic regression analysis. The research found that there were 2 factors influencing the application for certification of good agricultural practice standards: knowledge and understanding of farmers on GAP and farmers' practices on GAP. Logistic regression analysis predicting all variables was appropriate and consistent with the empirical data and model. The average overall efficiency of the logistics equation predicted the chances of small farmers passing and not being certified with 99.20 percent accuracy. The ability to correctly predict the chances of farmers who were certified GAP was 98.80% and not being certified for GAP was 99.60%, while the apparent error rate in grouping was 0.80 percent. By proposing ways to get more small farmers to pass GAP certification, government agencies must pay attention and support to promote both factors, including creating incentives for farmers to be aware of the importance of GAP standards.