Archive | 2019
Participation of Female Farmers Groups in Kai Algal Processing and Production in Northern Thailand
Abstract
The role of female farmers has increased in recent years to supplement family income in many rural households. This research involved female farmers engaged in processing kai algae in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand studied by the population parameters technique. An interview schedule with open-ended and closed questions and descriptive statistics were used. The responses were scored on a five point Likert’s scale ranging from ‘very strongly agree (5)’ to ‘very strongly disagree (1)’ in order to assess the level of participation among respondents. Results of this study revealed that female farmers were mostly between 51 and 60 years old (33.2%), and most of them were members of the locally organized kai algal processing group (86.6%) of the village. Their educational attainment was low with 60.0% of respondents completing primary education and comprising a family of 3 to 4 members. Monthly income for most of them (43.3%) ranged between 5001 and 10,000 Thai Baht (100 THB = 2.83 US$). The participation of female farmers in group activities got established strongly within five areas, namely: 1) planning process (budget planning, mean = 4.27); 2) group production and implementation process (all production responsibility, mean = 4.47), 3) group activities evaluation process (group activities’ suggestion and improvement for the management, mean = 4.34); 4) selling activities (booth set up and exhibition, mean = 4.40); and 5) benefit distribution (benefit management for group member, mean = 4.53). The respondents indicated that the raw material was insufficient for the whole year production due to the highly seasonal nature of the algae. Moreover, the group needed more logistic and financial support for marketing and promotion both inside and outside the province.