Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Straybirds Agricultural trainees in Taiwan

The Straybirds program is the most important agricultural training plan in Taiwan, aimed at attracting a young labor force capable of efficient production to engage in careers in farming. In this paper we investigate the associations between psychological factors and behaviors of Straybirds trainees, using a survey of 316 participants conducted in 2007. A structural equation model was used to examine causal relationships between the level of agricultural knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the college trainees. Results indicate that agricultural knowledge is a significant antecedent determinant of the attitudes and practices of participants in the program. In addition, both the agricultural knowledge and attitudes of the participants had positive effects on their behavior in practice.