Extension of Utilization of Organic Fertilizers in rice field for Farmers in Ban Sang District, Prachinburi Province

Abstract

        The objectives of this research were to study 1) social and economic conditions; 2) the knowledge in utilizing organic fertilizers in rice fields; 3) the conditions of utilizing organic fertilizers in rice fields; 4) extension of the utilization of organic fertilizers in rice fields; and 5) farmers' problems and suggestions in utilizing organic fertilizers in rice fields. This research was survey research. The population consisted of 145 rice farmers who utilized organic fertilizers in rice fields in Ban Sang District, Prachinburi Province. They were registered at the Department of Agricultural Extension in the production year of 2023. Structured interviews were used for data collection. Statistics used were frequency, percentage, mean, minimum, maximum, standard deviation, and ranking. The research results indicated the following: 1) most of the farmers were male, with an average age of 56.56 years, and finished elementary school. The average farming experience was 29.39 years. The average number of workers in the household was 2.51 people. The farmers' average attendance in training on the use of organic fertilizers in rice fields as facilitated by agricultural extension officers was 1.26 times. The farmers had an average rice planting area of 40.59 rai, an average income of 6,175.66 baht per rai, an average cost of 3,687.00 baht per rai, an average rice yield of 772.83 kilograms, and an average selling price of 8,251.72 baht per ton, 2) most farmers were knowledgeable about organic fertilizers in their rice fields at the highest level on the issue of using organic fertilizer derived from manure, compost, and green manure,. 3) conditions of fertilizer use in rice fields: Farmers used manure and compost during soil preparation, plow and cover the green manure plants before farming, using organic fertilizer pellets during the rice tillering stage., 4) Extension of the use of organic fertilizers in rice fields was at a high level on issue the farmers want to receive group extension by training in organic fertilizer production;. and 5) agriculture had a problem with extension of using organic fertilizer in farmers' rice fields at a high level, with the issue of producing organic fertilizer for their own use. And farmers were suggestions about extension the use of organic fertilizers in rice fields. There should be a group of farmers trained in production methods, use organic fertilizer continuously.