APPROACH TO CHANGE PAMELO’S AGRICULTURIST BEHAVIOR FOR SAVE-USE PAMELO PRODUCTION AT NAKORN PATHOM PROVINCE

Abstract

  The objectives of this mixed research method are composed of the qualitative and quantitative approaches for studying safe-use of pomelo production, enhancing agriculturist behaviors in the safe-use process and analyzing their changes in pomelo agriculture. Twenty-seven (27) respondents were chosen as participants, composed of two (2) agricultural technical officers and twenty-five (25) pomelo growers of Bang-Toey and Rai-Khing district, Nakhon Pathom, Province. The research tools are questionnaires on general data, knowledge of safe-use on pomelo production, and the interview on ways of behavioral changes.

The results showed that most of the pomelo growers were male (75%) among 25 participants; both gender 40 – 49 years of age (40%) finished primary school (40%). They had perceived GAP knowledge (88%). The knowledge after GAP training is significantly higher before GAP training (p =0.001). The changes of behavioral ways were 1) Consumer relied to safe consumption of Pomelo production that lead to an increase in sales in the market, 2) Reduced use of chemical compounds to reduce production cost, 3) Behavior modification is the production of GAP is easy, because some have already done. 4) Increase discipline of production in order for enhancing producer and consumer healthy. Therefore, the health personnel should participate with the community health volunteers and the community leaders in preventing illness from accumulate poison by insecticide exposure in both the agriculturists and consumers