An Evaluation of Knowledge and Extension of New Theory Agriculture of Farmers in Saraburi Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to study: (1) farmers' acquisition of knowledge and understanding of New Theory Agriculture; (2) extension needs of New Theory Agriculture; and (3) analyze problems and suggestions from farmers regarding the extension and implementation of the New Theory of Agriculture in order to lead to appropriate agricultural development guidelines. The population of this study consisted of 839 farmers who participated in the “One Subdistrict, One New Theory Agriculture Group” project in Saraburi Province. The sample size of 271 was determined using Taro Yamane’s formula with a margin of error of 0.05. A simple random sampling technique was employed. Data were collected using structured interviews and analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The research findings revealed that farmers practiced New Theory Agriculture at a high level (mean = 0.79). They allocated their agricultural land into four main components water reservoir, rice field, crop area, and residential area in proportions that were largely consistent with the New Theory principles (mean = 0.81). The most common activity was the cultivation of fruit trees and perennial plants (mean = 0.82). However, farmers’ knowledge and understanding of New Theory Agriculture were found to be at a moderate level (mean = 1.89). Most of their knowledge was acquired from mass media (mean = 2.34), while knowledge gained from printed media remained limited (mean = 1.52). Moreover, it was found that 94.5% of the farmers had a high level of knowledge and understanding, yet their income from practicing New Theory Agriculture remained relatively low. Specifically, 48% of the farmers had an annual income of less than 50,000 Baht. The main sources of income were vegetable production (daily and weekly income) and rice cultivation (monthly income), while annual income was primarily derived from the cultivation of fruit trees and perennial crops. The majority of farmers expressed a need for training programs and study visits to enhance their knowledge and skills in practicing New Theory Agriculture. The main problems identified were the lack of conformity to New Theory principles, resulting from insufficient understanding of the detailed practices, along with labor shortages and financial constraints.