2025 Volume 16 Issue 2 Pages 164-171
This study evaluated the determinants and adoption patterns associated with sustainable rice farming practices in Central Northeast Thailand. A sample of 109 farmers was selected using multistage sampling, targeting regions with a high number of GAP-certified or organic rice farmers. Data were collected through structured interviews and analyzed using descriptive statistics and stepwise regression. The findings revealed that the most widely adopted sustainable rice farming practice was manure application (89.91%), whereas more advanced practices, such as climate-smart or precision agriculture, exhibited low adoption rates (9.17%). Participation in farmer groups played a crucial role in promoting sustainable practices, with 93.75% of high adopters engaging in farmer groups, underscoring the importance of local institutions in facilitating adoption. Risk attitude also influenced adoption, with risk-tolerant farmers more likely to embrace sustainable practices, particularly among the high-adoption group (56.25%). Economic awareness was significantly correlated with higher adoption levels, with an average Likert score of 4.41 among high adopters. The regression analysis confirmed that farmer group participation and economic awareness had statistically significant positive effects on adoption, whereas risk aversion had a statistically significant negative effect. Additionally, challenges related to pest and weed management have encouraged farmers to seek more effective solutions, thereby facilitating the adoption of sustainable practices. These results indicate that enhancing local institutional support and promoting superior rice varieties are crucial for increasing sustainable rice farming practices in this region.
