Evaluating the outcomes of the New Theory of Agriculture project using a logical model and its relationship to safe agricultural practices

Abstract

The Sustainable Agriculture Development Project (New Theory Agriculture) in 2023 focused on encouraging farmers to shift their production mindset towards safe agricultural practices in areas based on the New Theory Agriculture. The target population included 10,900 farmers across 71 provinces, implemented by 7 agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. The evaluation aimed to assess the outcomes of the project and study the relationship between the New Theory Agriculture practices and the readiness for safe agricultural practices. A logical model was applied as a conceptual framework. Data was collected from a specific sample of 327 farmers in 22 provinces using questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and the chi-square test. The study found that 13.46% of farmers had begun to shift from conventional agriculture to a safe agricultural system. Regarding the relationship, land allocation according to the New Theory Agriculture principles was significantly correlated with the readiness for safe agricultural practices, sufficient water availability throughout the year, and the value of household food consumption. However, considering knowledge factors, the level of knowledge about safe agricultural production systems showed no statistically significant relationship with readiness for implementation at the 0.1 significance level. This indicates that the success of safe agricultural practices in an area does not depend solely on information awareness but also significantly on the readiness of the agricultural infrastructure of the farm. Findings and recommendations. The promotion process should be adjusted to emphasize continuity for at least two years. In the next phase, consideration should be given to shifting the budget from focusing on theoretical training to supporting improvements in the infrastructure of the farmland.