Demand for and the attitudes towards organic agricultural products in Lampang Province

Abstract

This research aims to study 1) organic knowledge and understanding 2) attitudes of customers toward organic agricultural products, including 3) demand for organic products 4) the relationship of demographic characteristics and consumer attitudes towards organic products, and 5) the relationship between attitude and demand for organic agricultural products. Questionnaires were used to collect data from 420 households by a convenience sampling method in Lampang province. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as percentage, mean, standard deviation, Chi-squared test, One-way ANOVA and Pearson product moment correlation coefficient. The results showed that more than 70 percent of Lampang’s consumers had good basic knowledge and understanding of simple concepts of organic agriculture. They also had a positive attitude towards organic products. The customers demanded all categories of organic products, especially vegetables and fruits. They were also willing to pay a higher price for organic products. The results showed that both age and income affected attitudes towards organic products, while education level was not significant to the attitude. Furthermore, the attitudes of households towards organic products also affected their demand.