Discussion
Adoption of any agricultural innovations is a gradual process
and based on the Rogers’ theory of diffusion of innovations, such
behavior is influenced by many factors including the characteristics
of the adopters as well as that of the innovations, and the social
circumstances surrounding the adopters (Rogers, 1995). The
Logistic Regression model used in this study which analyzed the
variables belonging to the above mentioned three groups of factors
provided very useful insights in the context of adoption of OVF in
Mahasharakam Province in Thailand. In the process of adoption of
OVF by the farmers, six factors were found to have played signifi-
cant roles. Notably, the leading role of women in OVF was the most
significantly influencing factor, indicating a tendency towards
increased adoption of OVF among the farm households where
female members play the key role in such type of farming.
During the discussion with the farmers on this issue, many
farmers mentioned that the women in the study area had developed
interest in growing organic vegetables after becoming aware of the
health concerns specifically on the fact that organic vegetables are
good for one’s health, which they learned after attending several
training programs. However, since most women grow organic
vegetables primarily for household consumption, this could explain
the very small area under organic vegetables in the study area (Table
2). The possible reasons for such behavior are discussed in detail in
the explanation of the role of price in the adoption of OVF.
Training and motivational programs conducted through the OVF
promotion projects had also significantly contributed to the practice
of OVF by the farmers. The project officials always make
constant efforts to persuade farmers to grow organic vegetables
through different ways, such as through personal counseling and
group discussions. Many women had actively taken part in such
promotional activities, thereby enabling them to understand the
health benefits of organic vegetables. As a consequence, the women
were increasingly keen on growing organic vegetables. Particularly,
the Health Promotion Project implemented by an NGO, besides
carrying out other OVF promotional activities, also arranged for the
blood sample testing for farmers to make them aware of the
chemical residues found in their bodies after consuming synthetic
input-based foods. Moreover, the GOs and NGOs also conducted
training sessions on the methods of OVF and on organic fertilizer
and bio-pesticide production techniques. All these efforts had paidoff
very well as reflected in the tendency of the farmers who took
part in the motivational and training programs to grow organic
vegetables.
Farmers can also by themselves be the source of inspiration and
serve as very influential agents for the promotion of any agricultural
innovations. As a natural human behavior, farmers who have
not yet adopted such innovation as OVF tend to seek the advice and
recommendations of their fellow farmers, which are usually
considered more convincing and reliable than the advice given by
outsiders including GO and NGO officials (Jintrawet, 1995). More
particularly in the developing countries where extension services
have not been very effective due to resource and other constraints,
farmers can play very effective role in the promotion of agricultural
innovations (Adesina & Baidu-Forson, 1995; Bewket, 2007; Scoones
& Thompson, 1994). The findings from this study, which revealed
significant influence of the persuasion by fellow farmers on the
adoption of OFV, had been consistent with the findings of studies
conducted earlier. Such findings had also been reinforced during
the discussions held with the farmers, where many of them
mentioned that they decided to grow organic vegetables after
having been persuaded by their fellow farmers. Other farmers also
mentioned that they started growing organic vegetables when they
observed that their fellow farmers are doing such type of farming.
In addition to their efforts in persuading farmers to grow organic
vegetables, the GOs and NGOs in Mahasarakam Province had also
conducted training to enhance the famers’ knowledge on the
cultivation and on the proper care of the organic vegetables. The
result of the regression analysis which revealed the significant
positive influence of such training on the adoption of OVF, justified
that such efforts had yielded positive results. The farmers who had
attended the training courses on OVF and organic fertilizer
production had the tendency towards growing organic vegetables.
Although the primary objective of the training programs is to
develop the farmers’ capability in OVF, the participating farmers are
also made aware of the health and financial benefits of raising
organic vegetables. Therefore, by providing the necessary technical
know-how and knowledge on health and financial benefits, the
training courses play the important and vital catalytic role in the
adoption of OVF.
It is a well established fact that entrepreneurs seeking alternative
investment opportunities would first consider the relative
financial return from such investment (Rehman et al., 2007). In
most cases, investment is mostly made on any enterprise that could
provide the satisfactory returns. Consistent with this fact, the
farmers who are satisfied with the price of organic vegetables are
the ones growing such vegetables. The price of any product is
directly linked to the profit that the farmers can make from the sale
of that particular product. It is plausible to confirm that the farmers
satisfied with the price of organic vegetables could earn attractive
สนทนายอมรับนวัตกรรมเกษตรใด ๆ เป็นกระบวนการที่ค่อย ๆและตามทฤษฎีของโรเจอร์สแพร่นวัตกรรม เช่นลักษณะการทำงานที่ได้รับอิทธิพลจากหลายปัจจัยรวมถึงลักษณะผู้รับบุตรบุญธรรมที่เป็นเหมือนของนวัตกรรม และสังคมสถานการณ์สภาพแวดล้อมที่ผู้รับบุตรบุญธรรม (โรเจอร์ส 1995) ที่แบบจำลองถดถอยโลจิสติกที่ใช้ในการศึกษานี้ได้วิเคราะห์การตัวแปรที่อยู่ข้างต้นกล่าวถึงกลุ่มปัจจัยให้ข้อมูลที่เป็นประโยชน์มากในบริบทของ OVF ในจังหวัด Mahasharakam ในประเทศไทย ในกระบวนการของOVF โดยเกษตรกร พบปัจจัยที่ 6 การเล่นมีความ-ต้อนบทบาท ยวด บทบาทผู้นำสตรีใน OVF ได้มากที่สุดอย่างมีนัยสำคัญมีอิทธิพลต่อปัจจัย การบ่งชี้แนวโน้มไปทางยอมรับของ OVF ระหว่างครัวเรือนเพิ่มขึ้นที่สมาชิกหญิงเล่นบทบาทสำคัญในนาชนิดเช่นในระหว่างการสนทนาด้วยซึ่งเรื่องนี้ หลายเกษตรกรกล่าวว่า ผู้หญิงในพื้นที่ศึกษาได้พัฒนาขึ้นสนใจในการปลูกผักอินทรีย์หลังจากกลายเป็นตระหนักถึงการสุขภาพความกังวลโดยเฉพาะกับผักอินทรีย์ที่ดีสำหรับสุขภาพ ซึ่งพวกเขาได้เรียนรู้หลังจากเข้าร่วมจำนวนมากโปรแกรมการฝึกอบรม อย่างไรก็ตาม เนื่องจากผู้หญิงส่วนใหญ่เติบโตอินทรีย์ผักสำหรับบริโภคในครัวเรือน นี้สามารถอธิบายผักอินทรีย์ในพื้นที่ศึกษา (ตารางพื้นที่ขนาดเล็กมาก2). The possible reasons for such behavior are discussed in detail inthe explanation of the role of price in the adoption of OVF.Training and motivational programs conducted through the OVFpromotion projects had also significantly contributed to the practiceof OVF by the farmers. The project officials always makeconstant efforts to persuade farmers to grow organic vegetablesthrough different ways, such as through personal counseling andgroup discussions. Many women had actively taken part in suchpromotional activities, thereby enabling them to understand thehealth benefits of organic vegetables. As a consequence, the womenwere increasingly keen on growing organic vegetables. Particularly,the Health Promotion Project implemented by an NGO, besidescarrying out other OVF promotional activities, also arranged for theblood sample testing for farmers to make them aware of thechemical residues found in their bodies after consuming syntheticinput-based foods. Moreover, the GOs and NGOs also conductedtraining sessions on the methods of OVF and on organic fertilizerand bio-pesticide production techniques. All these efforts had paidoffvery well as reflected in the tendency of the farmers who tookpart in the motivational and training programs to grow organicvegetables.Farmers can also by themselves be the source of inspiration andserve as very influential agents for the promotion of any agriculturalinnovations. As a natural human behavior, farmers who havenot yet adopted such innovation as OVF tend to seek the advice andrecommendations of their fellow farmers, which are usuallyconsidered more convincing and reliable than the advice given byoutsiders including GO and NGO officials (Jintrawet, 1995). Moreparticularly in the developing countries where extension serviceshave not been very effective due to resource and other constraints,farmers can play very effective role in the promotion of agriculturalinnovations (Adesina & Baidu-Forson, 1995; Bewket, 2007; Scoones& Thompson, 1994). The findings from this study, which revealedsignificant influence of the persuasion by fellow farmers on theadoption of OFV, had been consistent with the findings of studiesconducted earlier. Such findings had also been reinforced duringthe discussions held with the farmers, where many of themmentioned that they decided to grow organic vegetables afterhaving been persuaded by their fellow farmers. Other farmers alsomentioned that they started growing organic vegetables when theyobserved that their fellow farmers are doing such type of farming.In addition to their efforts in persuading farmers to grow organicvegetables, the GOs and NGOs in Mahasarakam Province had alsoconducted training to enhance the famers’ knowledge on thecultivation and on the proper care of the organic vegetables. Theresult of the regression analysis which revealed the significantpositive influence of such training on the adoption of OVF, justifiedthat such efforts had yielded positive results. The farmers who hadattended the training courses on OVF and organic fertilizerproduction had the tendency towards growing organic vegetables.Although the primary objective of the training programs is todevelop the farmers’ capability in OVF, the participating farmers arealso made aware of the health and financial benefits of raisingorganic vegetables. Therefore, by providing the necessary technicalknow-how and knowledge on health and financial benefits, thetraining courses play the important and vital catalytic role in theadoption of OVF.It is a well established fact that entrepreneurs seeking alternativeinvestment opportunities would first consider the relativefinancial return from such investment (Rehman et al., 2007). Inmost cases, investment is mostly made on any enterprise that couldprovide the satisfactory returns. Consistent with this fact, thefarmers who are satisfied with the price of organic vegetables arethe ones growing such vegetables. The price of any product isdirectly linked to the profit that the farmers can make from the saleof that particular product. It is plausible to confirm that the farmerssatisfied with the price of organic vegetables could earn attractive
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