Selection of Good Quality Rice Seed of Farmers in Chiang Rai Province

Abstract

Good quality rice seed enhances production efficiency and cost of production. However, the quantity of good quality rice seed, which is produced by government and private sector, is insufficient for farmers’ demand for planting. In 2020-2021, the Rice Seed Centers in upper Northern Thailand distributed 2,233.9 tons of rice seed to Chiang Rai province, but 38 percent of the total paddy field area in Chiang Rai was lack of quality seed. The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting farmers’ adoption of good seed in Chiang Rai province. Data were collected using a questionnaire with simple random sampling method from 399 registered rice farmers in the production year of 2020/2021. Data were analyzed using the logistic regression model. The results showed that 366 farmers adopted good rice seed while 33 farmers did not. The key factors to create more incentive for farmers to adopt good quality rice seed are high-yield rice seed, planting RD6 sticky rice variety, trustworthy with famous brand, and large planting area. On the other hand, farmers who adopt low price seed and apply farm-saved seed are the factors to create less adoption of good rice seed, compared to farmers who do not consider price or regularly buy rice seed for planting.