The Effectiveness of Policy Implementation of Farmer’s Debt Liquidation according to the Buddhist Good Governance Principles

Abstract

Objectives of this dissertation were: 1. to study the problems of Thai farmers’ debt liquidation, 2. to analyze the component of the debt liquidation of Thai farmers and 3. to propose the method of debt liquidation of Thai farmers according to the Buddhist good governance.  Methodology was the mixed method research between the qualitative and quantitative research methods. The qualitative research collected data from 23 key informants, purposefully selected from experts. The tool used to collect data were structured in-depth-interview, collected data by face-to-face interviewing and analyzed data by descriptive interpretation. Data were also collected from two groups of participants, who were experts in the farmers’ debt liquidation, in focus group discussions, 12 and 13 members in each group. Data were analyzed by descriptive interpretation. Quantitative research collected data by questionnaires from 175 samples, derived from 320 populations, using Krejcie and Morgan’s table. Data were analyzed by frequency, percentile, mean, standard deviation, t-test and F-test, one way ANOVA.

            Findings were as follows:

1. State of the problems of Thai farmers’ debt liquidation consisted of 3 factors; 1.1 personal factors such as education, family problems, wrong value, 1.2 environmental factors such as production, market, sources of fund and 1.3 the policy problem of debt payment such as inadequate coordination, not-fully covered public relations, discontinuous project operation, inadequate budget.
2. The formal component of debt liquidation consisted of;

                   2.1 Planning administered by government and concerned agencies. The parties concerned should put the wage on educational reform, encourage farmers to change value and behavior, to jointly solve any problems and apply the Sufficiency Economy in daily living.

                   2.2 Organizing administered by government and concerned agencies. This is to set up net work and participatory systems of farmer communities, give credit to the group of farmers instead of to the individuals,  recruit the experts in debt liquidation to give direct advices to farmers at all regions and to act as the center for integrated farmers development.

                   2.3 Directing administered by government and concerned agencies. There should be training in all aspects, especially the family financial planning and public relations about local farmers at every spot and locality and issue direct responsibility to the concerned units.    

                   2.4 Coordinating administered by government and concerned agency. This is to extend the help to other group of farmers, coordinate with all agencies to meet and discuss the clear plans to solve the farmers’ debt quarterly so that farmers can be self-sufficient.

                   2.5 Controlling by government and concerned agencies. This is to evaluate every project continuously, use budgets for values, control and monitor every project closely for the faire and just treatment to all partied concerned. 

          3. The effective mean for the farmers’ debt liquidation according to the Buddhist good governance is to help farmers to increase their net incomes, more savings, good quality of life, debt payment potentials, the decreased rate of debt against assets and potentials to pay debts at the end.