ความพร้อมของเกษตรกรสู่การทำฟาร์มอัจฉริยะ และต้นทุน-ผลตอบแทนจากการผลิต: กรณีศึกษาฟาร์มผักไฮโดรพอนิกส์ ในอำเภอหาดใหญ่ จังหวัดสงขลา

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to study the readiness of farmers in hydroponic vegetable farming and the cost-benefit of production. The study was conducted on four hydroponic vegetable farms in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, in-depth observations, and non-participatory observations. Quantitative data was analyzed by calculating frequencies and averages, while qualitative data was analyzed through content analysis. The research findings revealed that the farmers' ages ranged from 36 to 58 years old, and the size of the greenhouse ranged from 128 to 600 square meters. The majority of the crops grown were salad vegetables, and the farms were primarily operated by one worker. The study on farmers' readiness found that: 1) In terms of knowledge, most farmers had a moderate to high level of readiness. However, farmers with lower levels of readiness had a negative impact on production and the quality of the crops. This was due to their lack of knowledge in preparing nutrient solutions for plants, resulting in the use of expensive fertilizers and poor crop growth due to inadequate understanding of plant growth factors, especially temperature and humidity. This led to improper settings of the automated system, resulting in damaged vegetable crops due to diseases or non-standard sizes, making them unsellable. Therefore, farmers should have a better understanding of the factors that affect plant requirements accurately and precisely. 2) In terms of capital readiness, most farmers are well-prepared. They are able to build greenhouses and acquire equipment for smart systems. They also have reserve funds for working capital and emergency situations. The main production costs include depreciation of greenhouses and equipment, electricity costs, labor wages, seed costs, chemical fertilizer costs, irrigation costs, other planting materials, and transportation costs. When measuring profitability, which is calculated by the net profit-to-total cost ratio, it was found that farms with the highest profitability had a ratio of 130.0. These farms had the highest investment in technology, allowing them to produce a large quantity of goods. This resulted in reduced unit costs based on the principle of economies of scale