Farmers’ Attitudes on Fallow Farm for Soil Maintenance and Continuous Farming in Lam Luk Ka District, Pathum Thani Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were 1) to study the attitudes and acceptance of farmers towards continuous rice farming and resting rice fields for soil improvement, and 2) to study the problems and collect suggestions from farmers towards continuous rice farming and resting rice fields for soil improvement. The sample group consisted of 200 farmers in Lam Luk Ka District, Pathum Thani Province, with non-resting rice farming and resting rice fields for soil improvement. The results of the survey research were as follows. Most of the farmers were male, at 71.50 percent and the average age ranged from 61 to 70 years at 57.50 percent. Most farmers graduated from elementary schools and had experience in rice cultivation in the range of 11-20 years. The number of workers in rice cultivation was mostly 2 people per household, which accounted for 43.50 percent of all households. The average number of permanent workers was 3 people, at 9 percent. The average number of temporary workers was 3 people, at 25 percent. Farmers had an average rice cultivation area between 21-30 rai, at 29 percent, with 82.50 percent of land being leased. The average yield of rice was in the range of 701-800 kilograms per rai, 54.50 percent. The average selling price of rice was 7.1-8 baht per kilogram. The average income from rice production was in the range of 4,501-5,500 baht per rai. The average expenditure on rice production was in the range of 4,001-5,000 baht per rai, representing 63 percent. 66.7 percent of farmers had knowledge in resting rice fields for soil improvement. The reasons why farmers reduced/stopped burning rice straw and stubble were as follows. Plowed rice straw and stubble could improve soil quality and add nutrients to the soil (mean attitude score 4.02). There were raw materials or methods that reduced the fermentation time to help decompose stubble and rice straw (mean 3.70). The production cost of rice and the production cost of plowing the stubble were cheaper than the cost of burning the stubble and rice straw (mean 3.59). The reasons farmers continue to burn stubble and rice straw were because the time for fermentation to decompose stubble and rice straw was long (mean 3.92), production cycles were accelerated to catch up with water and neighboring plots (mean 3.86), the burning destroyed weedy rice and weed (mean 3.82), and the cost of rice production were not different (mean 3.65). Therefore, for farmers who continue to burn rice stubble and straw, recommendations, advice, and training should be provided so that they gain understanding of the negative impacts of the burning of rice straw and stubble and the benefits of fallow rice farm in soil improvement. The farmers can thus apply the knowledge to improve their farming, reduce production costs, and sustainably utilize their lands.