Factors Affecting the Use of Trichoderma by Rural Rice Farmers in Thailand

Abstract

Trichoderma is a genus of fungi that can help plants grow, resist disease, and improve nutrient uptake. It’s often used as a biocontrol agent in agriculture and horticulture. The use of Trichoderma fungi to reduce the use of chemicals and maintain environmental balance is an alternative to control plant diseases in agriculture. For rice farmers, the use of Trichoderma is a viable alternative as they can save on the cost of chemical fertilizers, which preserve the environment. However, many farmers are aware of how effectively to use Trichoderma and as such may be resistant to its use. The objective of this research was to evaluate the socio-economic factors affecting the adoption and use of Trichoderma by rice farmers in North Thailand regions and the role of agricultural extension in influencing their decision. 172 farmers were interviewed for this research, Structured interviews were used for data collection. The statistics employed included frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The study’s findings include: 1) most farmers were male, with an average age of 53.92 years, and with completion of primary school. Farmers received training regarding the use of Trichoderma from the District Agriculture Office, with an average of 2.67 training sessions per farmer. The average rice farming experience was 17.99 years, the average cultivated rice area was 11.94 rai, the average rice production cost was 31,453.33 baht per year, and the average income was 40,334.33 baht per year and 2) the factors that influenced farmers’ adoption of Trichoderma in rice fields were statistically significant at the 0.05 confidence level and included the farmers’ experience in growing rice, attendance at Trichoderma training, and their knowledge of Trichoderma.