Abstract:
This study aimed to investigate organic fertilizers application of farmers; factors effecting organic fertilizer application, problems encountered and suggestions of organic fertilizer application. Respondents consisted of 393 farmers in 3 districts of Suratthani province. The data were collected by a set of questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive statistics and Chi-square test.
In general, the respondents made organic fertilizer application at a high level. They believed that this would reduce the environmental problem and it promoted natural resource conservation and maintaining ecology system in the soil. The followings were also perceived by the respondents, that is, no toxin contamination in food and helping increase yield quality, truely safe, and also helping cost reduction.
There was a statistically significant relationship between household workforce, temporary hired workers, size of cultivated land, being a member of agricultural cooperative group and organic fertilizer application of the respondents. Increasing of organic fertilizer price was regarded as the problem with lacked of fertilizer application knowledge and organic fertilizer was not financially supported by the government. Therefore, the government should control the price and support budget for organic fertilizers. Also, concerned agencies should provide farmers with trainings for the extension of various knowledge about organic fertilizer using.