IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2017) 8-2

Research article
erd

Synthesis of Graduation Theses in Agricultural Commodity
Production Adhering to Government Designated Standards
SUNAN SEESANG*
School of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University,
Nonthaburi 11120, Thailand
Email: sseesang@hotmail.com

PONSARAN SARANROM
School of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University,
Nonthaburi 11120, Thailand
Received 16 December 2016

Accepted 5 November 2017(*Corresponding Author)

Abstract The objectives were to analyze 1) the research methodology of graduation theses,2) the result of graduation theses, 3) problems on commodity production adhering togovernment designated standards, and 4) synthesis of guidelines on the development ofcommodity production adhering to government designated standards. The sample population
was 58 graduation theses agricultural extension and development in agricultural commodity
production adhering to government designed standards. Twenty-six samplings were
determined using purposive sampling methodology.The findings were as follows: 1) All the
research methodology of the graduation theses followed quantitative research. Seventy
percent studied by determining the sampling, and all the theses followed sampling
methodology using Taro Yamane formula. Ninety-five percent selected sampling using thesimple random sampling methodology. 2) Fifty percent of the theses were completed during
the academic years 2001-2005, 34% were completed during years 2006-2010, and 16% werecompleted during years 2011-2015. Ninety-two percent studied good agricultural practice(GAP). Regarding agricultural commodities, 38.5% studied the production standards of fruit
plants, 26.9% vegetables, 15.4% cattle, 11.5% rice and corn, and 7.7% flowering plants. In
the academic aspect of agricultural extension and development, 38% studied the usage of
agricultural production standards, 30% studied the adoption process, and 15% studied thelearning process. 3) Regarding problems, most were at low level with agricultural commodity
production adhering to the designated standards, and 4) To syntheses guidelines, related
sectors should transfer knowledge and examine production regularly to comply withdesignated standards and reinforced them to create brand recognition and increase market
opportunities.
Keywords synthesis of graduation theses, agricultural products production, standards

INTRODUCTION
Agricultural Extension and Development course opened for Graduate School in the year 2000.
Graduate research relating to agricultural commodities production adhering to government
designated standards such as GAP (Good Agricultural Practice) and export standards has been
published in national and international documents and accepted worldwide. Further, research results
were beneficial for agricultural extension, learning management and curriculum development andimprovement.
However, the research results have never been categorized or synthesized to determine thedirection of the results, the background of the theories, the categories and variables, variable
definitions and research methodology. Therefore, the researcher was interested in analyzing andsynthesizing graduation theses in agricultural commodity production adhering to standards thatwould be of use in advising students and scholars interested in research on agricultural development.
Moreover, the results will comprise a database for teachers and a reference source for students.
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OBJECTIVES
The purposes of this research were as follows: 1) to examine the research methodology of graduationtheses, 2) to examine the results of graduation theses, 3) to examine problems regarding commodity
production adhering to government designated standards, and 4) to synthesize guidelines on thedevelopment of commodity production adhering to government designated standards.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
1. Research design: This research was designed as survey research.
2. Population/Samples: The population was 58 graduation theses on agricultural extension anddevelopment in agricultural commodities production adhering to government designated standards,
26 samplings were determined using purposive sampling methodology.
3. Research instrument: Survey was used as the research instrument.
4. Data analysis: Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used to analyze the data.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Research Methodology of Graduation Theses
All the research methodology of the graduation theses followed quantitative research. Seventy
percent determined the sampling, and all researchers determined their sampling using the Taro
Yamane formula. Ninety-five percent selected sampling using simple random sampling methodology.
Most research methodologies used quantitative research because this determines factual knowledge
from research results which has the least error. Thus, data collection was designed as number andvariables were controlled. Instruments for data collection, data analysis and evaluation were preparedsystematically. Kijpreedaborisut (2008) explained that the advantage of quantitative research wasthat it looked for the facts systematically, applied predictions and searched for correlations between
variables, considered each variable rationally, applied statistical analysis and referred the results tothe population group. However, the researcher considered that research on agricultural extension anddevelopment related to Social Science which studied social phenomena. Inferences from quantitative
research were unable to deal with phenomena and consequently qualitative research was required.
Result of Graduation Theses
Analyzing the time spans of the graduation theses, 50% were completed during the academic years
2001-2005, 34% during 2006-2010, and 16% during 2011-2015.

16%
50%
34%

Fig.1 Time spans of the graduation thesesⒸ ISERD

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To analyze the type of product standards, 92% studied good agricultural practice (GAP). Results
concurred with the declaration of GAP following the National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity
and Food Standards (ACFS) (2016). The Thai agricultural standard TAS 9001-2009, good
agricultural practices for crops was first announced as an Act on 6 November 2003, with anamendment in the GAP manual 2007. This inspired student interest in conducting theses on
Agricultural Commodity Production Adhering to Designated Standards, particularly in regard to
GAP. However, research on GAP declined because the subject had been sufficiently covered.
Students emphasized on other topics consistent with the changing areas of interest.
To analyze the type of agricultural products, 38.5% studied the production standards of fruit
plants, 26.9% vegetables, 15.4% cattle, 11.5% rice and corn, and 7.7% flowering plants. Results wereconsistent with the types of plant that required GAP certification. From GAP information, there were
24 standards regarding plants which accounted for 63%, whereas only 24 relating to animals at 37%(ACFS, 2016). Therefore, the majority of researchers emphasized on the study of plants.
fruit plants

vegetables

cattlerice and corn

flowering plants

8%
12%
38%
15%

27%

Fig.2 Type of agricultural products studied in graduation theses
To analyze the graduation theses in the academic aspect of agricultural extension anddevelopment, 38% studied the usage of agricultural production standards, 30% studied the adoption
process, and 15% studied the learning process. The results could be explained by the agriculturalextension concept; to transfer knowledge to agriculturists to accept innovation to make positive
economic, social and environmental change. The 5 step adoption process postulated by Rogers andShoemaker (1978) consists of awareness step, interest step, evaluation step, trial step, and adoption
step. Agricultural Commodity Production Adhering to the Standards was the research on the firststep, the awareness step, and accounted for 15%. The researcher considered that research on step 1
or the awareness step was only a preliminary study or the first step of the adoption process that
required further research to study step 5, adoption step. However, results showed that many
researchers studied from to step 1 through to step 5, which was called in this research as the usageof agricultural production standards and accounted for 38%. Thus, the research should emphasize on
the study to achieve step 5, or the adoption step of the study through all 5 steps.
Problems on Commodity Production Adhering to Government Designated Standards
To analyze the problems, most had difficulties at a low level with agricultural commodity production
adhering to designated standards. Results indicated that agricultural commodity production adhering
to designated standards in Thailand had been applied for a long time with the use of GAP since 2003.
Agricultural commodity production adhering to designated standards was constantly promoted to theagriculturists. As a result, the problems eventually decreased.

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Synthesis of Guidelines on the Development of Commodity Production Adhering toGovernment Designated Standards.
To synthesize guidelines based on the result of graduation theses, related sectors should havetransferred knowledge and examined production regularly to comply with designated standards andreinforced them to create a brand symbol and increase market opportunities. Findings were in linewith the report of a seminar on the guidelines of GAP projects in 2013. One of the problems ofcommodity production promotion adhering to GAP since the Act came into force was the lack ofagricultural extension staff and consultants. Most were new staff who had less experience andknowledge (Department of Agricultural Extension, 2013). Therefore, this research reflected theguidelines of agriculturists that transferred knowledge and examined production regularly to comply
with designated standards and promoted the brand symbol to increase market opportunities.
CONCLUSION
This research on Synthesis of Graduation Theses in Agricultural Commodity Production Adhering toGovernment Designated Standards illustrated that all the research methodologies of the theses
followed quantitative research methods which determined factual knowledge with the least error.
Qualitative research should also be applied since research on agricultural development and extension
was a social science that studied social phenomena that changed continuously. Findings showed that
research into the possibility of the change in Agricultural Commodity Production Adhering toGovernment Designated Standards was during 2001-2005 and 2006-2010. These were periods when
Thailand announced that agricultural commodity production should adhere to designated standards.
Most researchers focused on plant products rather than animal products since there were moreagricultural commodity production standards for plants than for animals. Researchers emphasized on
the study on the 5 steps of the adoption process, particularly steps 1 and 5. Research should focus on
the study of step 5, adoption process or study through all the steps. The problem of agriculturists in
production adhering to standards was at a low level. However, there was the problem of transferringknowledge of production adhering to standards because of staff insufficiency. As a result, theguidelines of knowledge transfer development which agriculturists require and need to create thebrand symbol of standards and increase market opportunities is lacking.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The researchers are grateful to the School of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Sukhothai ThammathiratOpen University who supported the scholarship for this study.
REFERENCES
Department of Agricultural Extension. 2013. Report of workshop to enhance efficiency of consultants,
Approach to drive agricultural products quality extension GAP. Bangkok. Bureau of Agricultural Products
Quality, Thailand.
Kispredarborisuthi. 2008. Research methodology in social science. 10th ed. Jamjuree Product, Bangkok.
National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standard. 2016. Standard of agricultural commodity.
http://www.acfs.go.th/agri_standards.php (retrieved on 12 December, 2016).
Rogers, E. and Shoemaker, F. 1978. Communication of innovations, A cross-cultural approach. Free Press,
New York, USA.

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