Abstract:
The preparation of this research was initiated with qualitative research. The purpose was to analyze the durian planting process of farmers in the eastern region by analyzing the value chain. The tool used for data collection was in-depth interviews with agricultural academics; brand builders; successful and unsuccessful branded farmers; 20 non-branded farmers in 3 provinces; namely: Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat, using purposive sampling and analyzing the descriptive research results based on the value chain concept and continued with quantitative research, aiming to study the factors influencing the intention to re-purchase processed durian products of Thai tourists. The tool used to collect the data was a questionnaire from 400 students aged 18-25 years at Burapha University, using multi-stage random and the data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and confirmatory factor analysis. The results of the qualitative research analysis revealed that the farmer's cost and return depended on the durian price during the selling period which adjusted all the time because of a problem with transporting to foreign markets due to the pandemic. This made the exports more stringent and a lot of delays. The net return received by farmers would depend on many factors, such as the selling price of durian, fuel price, number of farmers' produce, labour costs, fertilizer costs, medicine costs, and other expenses. The problems of the value chain in durian planting were 1) current economic conditions; 2) high costs, double prices of fertilizers and drugs; 3) fluctuation of the current climate and temperature affecting young leaves and yields; and 4) pandemic affecting durian exports and delay, causing low prices in some periods. The results of the quantitative research analysis revealed that Burapha University students who bought processed durian products were mostly female, aged 18-20 years, studying in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Their education level was at the 3rd year and the 4th year with a monthly income of 5,001 8,000 baht and 2-3 family members travelling once a month (in normal circumstances). They had a need to buy processed fruit products when it was a favourite; a need to buy processed fruit when wanting to eat. Processed fruit products were purchased from souvenir shops. When buying processed fruit products, the family helped make decisions. The reason for re-purchasing processed fruit products was the trust and confidence in the product. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis found that brand identity variables, brand image, brand favourite and trust, the model of which was consistent with the favourably empirical data (Chi-square statistic was 0.70, the p-value was 0.765, GFI index was 0.998, AGFI index was 0.963, CFI index was 1.00, RMSEA was 0.00, and SRMR was 0.013).