Effects of Population, Agriculture and Agricultural Machinery Factors on Rice and Sugarcane Productivities

Abstract

Due to continuously increasing of ageing population results in increasing number of aging farmers which would affect agricultural working efficiency and agricultural productivity. This research aimed to study the effects of population, agriculture and agricutural machinery factors on rice and sugarcane productivities of rice and sugarcane farming households. The data was collected from the farmer registration book compiled by the Department of Agricultural Extension, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in 2021. Farmer leaders of rice and sugarcane households selected by age from 20 to 60 years old and over, and classified by 3 ranges; 20-45, 46-59, 60 years old and over. The numbers of rice and sugarcane households were 3,050,426 and 18,947, respectively. The variables of the productivity included three groups; population (sex, age, and education), agriculture (planting region, holding status and water supply) and agricultural machinery (8 groups; 1 - power units, 2 - land preparation machines, 3 - planting machines, 4 - cultivating machines, 5 - harvesters, 6 - water pumps, 7 - agricultural trucks, 8 - post-harvest machines). The numbers of independent variables were 17 and 16 for rice and sugarcane, respectively. The data was analysed by multiple regression analysis. For rice, farmer households aged 60 years old and over with junior high school education produced better productivity. Planting areas in central region, lent land, irrigation and water supply enabled farmers to get better productivity. Agriculural machinery group 1 produced the highest productivity followed by group 3, 7 and 4, respectively. For sugarcane, female household leaders with senior high school produced better productivity. Planting areas in northeast region, land holding, lack of irrigation and water supply enabled better productivity. Agriculural machinery group 5 produced the highest productivity followed by group 2.