Development of Structure Equation of Factors Affecting Forest Tea Garden Occupation: The Case Study of Pa Pae Sub-district, Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

This research was intended to study factors affecting forest tea garden occupation. 101 samples drawn for this study comprised of forest tea garden entrepreneurs in Pa Pae Sub-district, Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai Province by Cluster Sampling. Data were analyzed by Partial Least Square with PLS-Graph Program. Structure Equation Modeling was also analyzed by Partial Least Square and the samples were purposive sampling. The result indicated that production process factor and marketing mix factor affected the forest tea garden occupation. The price was the signifcant variable resulting to the occupation. The higher the price of forest tea product, the higher the gardeners engaged in this occupation. In terms of political factor and environment factor, they did not affect the forest tea garden occupation. This was because Assam Tea plantation was planted along with forest conservation. The gardeners would not fall the big trees in the garden but they would plant tea trees depending on big trees. Therefore, these factors did not affect the Assam tea forest garden occupation. But the same factors that
affect the price of tea is a tea plantation and other factors.