The impact on freshwater fisheries farmers from the epidemic COVID-19 in Ang Thong Province

Abstract

           This study focuses on the impact upon freshwater fisheries farmers from the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the area of Ang Thong province. The objectives of the study were: 1) to study the situational impact on freshwater fisheries farmers from the COVID-19 epidemic in Ang Thong province, and 2) to study the driving factors towards the development of the agricultural sector regarding freshwater fisheries after the outbreak of COVID-19 in Ang Thong province. The sample size consisted of 100 farmers and 5 key-informants. The questionnaires and the interview were used to collect data.

            The results found that most of respondents are female with 45 years old, having secondary or vocational education, having monthly income of not more than 10,000 baht, have been working for more than 10 years. The overall value of impact on freshwater fisheries farmers from the COVID-19 epidemic in Ang Thong province is at a high level. When consider each dimension, it can be sorted out from the least to the greatest value as follows; economy, agriculture, information technology, logistics system and farmer household debt, social aspects, natural resources, and environment, respectively. The overall value of driving factors on the development of the agricultural sector regarding freshwater fisheries after the COVID-19 outbreak in Ang Thong province is at a high level. Considering each item separately, it can be arranged in descending order as follows; technology, natural, human, following by social aspects. The results of the hypothetical testing showed that farmers with different incomes had different effect on freshwater fisheries.