Factors influencing the adoption of good agricultural practices among vegetable farmers in Kedah / Nik Nur Alya Izzati Nik Hen

Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) is an agricultural method that focuses on environmental, economic and social measures to ensure safe and high quality production. Among the advantages of good agricultural practices are can help farmer perform better, improve the production, protect the environment, guarantee the safety and welfare of workers, and able to compete in the domestic and international market. However, the adoption rate of good agricultural practices is still very low among farmers in Kedah. The purpose of this study is to determine whether attitude, knowledge and social influence are the significant antecedents that influence the adoption of good agricultural practices among vegetable farmers in Kedah. The researcher used a structured questionnaire as the main instrument for the data collection. 123 respondents were included in this study by using a purposive sampling technique. Frequency analysis, descriptive test, reliability analysis, Pearson’s correlation analysis and regression analysis to analyse the data using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The research results showed that all the independent variables which are attitude, knowledge and social influence had a significant relationship with the adoption of good agricultural practices among vegetable farmers in Kedah as the p-value of attitude was 0.001, knowledge with p-value 0.000 and followed by the social influence factor with p-value 0.002. The study also concluded that the adoption of good agricultural practices could be increased if the farmers understand the concept and benefits of good agricultural practices. Therefore, the relevant government agencies should be recommended to give more exposures and knowledge about good agricultural practices to other vegetable farmers.