On-farm food safety knowledge, attitudes and self-reported practices of layer hen farmers
ISSN: 0007-070X
Article publication date: 26 June 2019
Issue publication date: 9 July 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of farmers regarding the on-farm food safety measures in the commercial layer farms in Thailand prior the implementation of the mandatory Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standard.
Design/methodology/approach
The cross-sectional study was conducted through the face-to-face interview with a questionnaire in 143 GAP certified and 59 non-GAP certified farms. The levels of safety and quality measures implemented in farms were evaluated using a self-reported approach. Scoring system was applied to investigate the relationship between level of practices and its determining factors using the correlation test.
Findings
The layer hen farmers appeared to have an adequate level of knowledge on safety and quality measures; however, some misconception on recommended practices was still observed. The significant differences (p<0.001) in the regularity of practices adopted in farms were noticed between GAP and non-GAP groups. The GAP farmers have higher level of knowledge, and positive attitudes toward implementation. Only the weak positive relationships were found between all KAP variables which implied that there are other factors influencing the translation of knowledge and favorable attitudes into practices.
Originality/value
None of the on-farm food safety KAP report has been published in Thailand. This study highlights the gaps in the practices and issues needed to be focused by standard promoters for developing the knowledge translation programs aimed at enhancing the standard of layer farming.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to express a great appreciation to the Ministry of Agricultural and Cooperatives, Thailand, for the scholarship to the first author to pursue Doctoral Degree at the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand.
Citation
Thongpalad, K., Kuwornu, J.K.M., Datta, A., Chulakasian, S. and Anal, A.K. (2019), "On-farm food safety knowledge, attitudes and self-reported practices of layer hen farmers", British Food Journal, Vol. 121 No. 8, pp. 1912-1925. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-12-2018-0799
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited