FACTORS AFFECTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GAP AMONG BANANA (GROS MICHEL) GROWERS IN BAN LAT DISTRICT, PHETCHABURI PROVINCE, THAILAND

Banana (Gros Michel) or Kluai Hom Thong (Musa acuminata, AAA Group) is an economic crop in Thailand and it is an important product to export under the standard of good agricultural practice (GAP). This study aims to investigate factors affecting the GAP implementation among banana (Gros Michel) growers who adopt GAP for practice in Ban lat district, Phetchaburi province. This study revealed that most of farmers encountered water scarcity but they realized the importance of recording the data during the GAP practice. Gender, number of family members and farming organization membership were the factors highly impacting the implementation of GAP among these banana growers. The results from this study should direct the staffs in the relevant organizations to focus on these three key issues to improve growing banana with GAP certification.