The Buying Behavior of Rice Farmers toward Biocontrol Agents for Pest Control in Nakhon Luang District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province

Abstract

The research titled “The Buying Behavior of Rice Farmers toward Biocontrol Agents for Pest Control in Nakhon Luang District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province” aimed to study: 1) personal, economic, and information exposure factors; 2) the use of biocontrol agents in rice cultivation; 3) farmers’ knowledge about biocontrol agents; 4) The Buying Behavior of biocontrol agents for pest control; and 5) the comparison of personal factors, usage of biocontrol agents, and knowledge with buying behavior. The sample group consisted of 328 farmers, using a questionnaire as the research instrument, descriptive and inferential statistics.

The study found that 1) most farmers were male, aged below 49 years, with secondary education or equivalent, and had 20–30 years of rice farming experience. The majority rented farmland and earned more than 180,001 Baht per year. Most farmers received information about biocontrol agents from government officers. 2) In terms of usage, biocontrol agents were commonly applied in during cultivation. 3) Farmers’ overall knowledge of biocontrol agents was at a moderate level (mean = 0.66), 4) their buying behavior was purchasing biological substances, which depended most on the reasons for purchasing (Why) (mean = 3.86). and 5) Hypothesis testing revealed that farm size, land tenure type, and production volume significantly influenced buying behavior (p < 0.05), and gender differences also showed significant differences in buying behavior (p < 0.01).