การศึกษาทุนในการดำรงชีพของครัวเรือนเกษตรกรชาวสวนยางพารา กรณีศึกษา อำเภอนาทวี จังหวัดสงขลา

Abstract

This study aimed to examine 1) the socio-economic factors, 2) capital level for livelihoods of rubber farmer households, 3) the relationships between socio-economic factors and capital level for livelihoods of rubber farmer households, and 4) problems and suggestions for livelihoods of rubber farmer households. 386 rubber farmer households in Na Thawi district, Songkhla province were interviewed for data collection. The structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Percentage, mean, maximum, minimum, and chi-square were used for data analysis. The study found that 70.2% were female family leaders with an average age at 49.5 years old, finished primary school for 36.5%, had major career of rubber farming for 73.8%, all household members living in the house had an average at 3.54 people, and the household labor had an average at 3.45 people. 80% were members of farmers, cooperatives, or careers related to agriculture. In access the knowledge source for rubber plantations, 45.6% of the farmers received knowledge from training from relevant agricultural officials. Fór the acquisition of land ownership, majority of farmers were transferred ownerships from their parents or ancestors. The total income of the rubber farmer households had an average at 265,107.35 baht/year. All incomes were mainly derived from agricultural income because the sample group had an average size of rubber plantation areas of 9.16 rai/household. RRIM600 rubber breeds were grown for 96.1% with and intercrop for 70.2%. Farmers used stumped rubber bags as planting material. Tapping system used mostly was 1/253d/4. The average tapping days were 18.1 days/month and 127.18 days/year. Labor tapping for 52.6% allocated benefits in proportion of 50:50. The majority of the respondents for 66.3% were not supported by RAOT. The average frequency of chemical fertilizer application was 1 time/year. Farmers managed diseases or pests using mechanical methods, and the average frequency of management was 1.2 times/year. Fresh latex would be sold at 92.5%. For living capital regarding natural disasters and pandemics that occurred, the frequency of natural disasters and epidemics had average at 1 time/year. Majority of the violence was moderate and affected the living and the production of rubber at a medium level. Most of the water was used for agriculture. The capital level for livelihoods of rubber farmer households had the overall five-capital level at the medium level. Mean of 3.46 had the capital level for livelihoods at the medium level Four capitals composed of human capital (3.31), natural capital (3.43), financial capital (3.40), physical capital (3.41), and social capital (3.75) had capital levels at the high level. The factors studied are components of capitals in all 5 areas. Data were analyzed by chi-square test. The study found that various factors which were components of human capital, social capital, financial capital, and physical capital had relationships between the levels of livelihoods with the statistically significance at P≤ 0.01. The natural capital did not have a relationship with the living capital of livelihoods of rubber farmer households with statistical significance.