The Progressive Farmer Members’ Opinion toward Phrao Land Sattlement Progressive Farmer Cooperatives, Amphoe Phrao, Changwat Chiang Mai.

Abstract

The principal objectives of the study were to investigate the socio-economic aspects of the member of the Progressive Farmer Group, their agricultural practices and their opinions toward the Land Settlement Progressive Farmer Cooperatives. The target population were 78 members of the Land Settlement Progressive Farmer Cooperatives, Amphoe Phrao, Changwat Chiang Mai, in 1993. Data collection was conducted through interviews and literature reviews. Statistical analysis was made using percentage and arithmetic meas. The results of the study were summarized as below: On the socio-economic aspect, most of the cooperatives members were male (84.62 percent) with the average age of 31.5 years old. Their education background was raged from higher vocational certificate to bachelor’s degree. The average family size was 4 persons, size of land holding was 8-10 rai per family. They could earn 142,782.75 baht per family per year, and spent 3,653.85 baht per month in average. These members obtained agricultural information through television radio and newspaper, on regular basis but read few agricultural magazines. Each of the Progressive Farmer members grew trees on 8-10 rai of rainfed land. Each family spent approximately 30,151.28 baht for the investment. About as percent of the cooperatives members at 92.75 percent obtained their loan from the cooperatives and carried the debt amouting to 31,596.36 baht per family in average. They needed more knowledge on crops, livestock and water utilization, The difficulties of this occupation were the water shortage, lack of fund, low price of product, high rate of loan interest, and soil infertility, etc. These members were very favorable to wards the cooperative objectives but uncertain about its operation. The severity of the difficulties of their occupation was rated moderately medium.