EMPOWERMENT OF SUGARCANE FARMERS TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE SELF-RELIANCE, A GROUP OF DEBTORS FROM THE KANCHANABURI FARMERS REHABILITATION AND DEVELOPMENT FUND

Abstract

This research aims to 1) Study the factors affecting the debt of sugarcane farmers in the debtor group of the Agricultural Rehabilitation and Development Fund, Kanchanaburi Province, 2) Develop a model for empowering farmers to be self-reliant according to the BCG Model concept, and 3) Propose an empowerment approach for farmers to reduce debt and be self-reliant sustainably. This research is a mixed - methods research: quantitative research, data collection using questionnaires with a purposively selected sample of 192 sugarcane farmers in the debtor group of the Agricultural Rehabilitation and Development Fund, Kanchanaburi Province. Statistical data analysis was performed by finding frequency percentage, mean, and standard deviation. In qualitative research, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 22 experts were used. Data were analyzed using content analysis with descriptive context.
The research results found that 1) The factor affecting debt with the highest mean was other intervening factors with a mean of 4.12, which is at a very significant level, followed by external factors with a mean of 3.83, which is at a very significant level. And the factors related to sugarcane cultivation have an average of 3.63, which is at a moderate level. 2) Development of a model for empowering farmers based on the BCG Model concept, namely, the bioeconomy aspect, such as using sugarcane waste as alternative energy, the circular economy aspect, such as using sugarcane cobs as materials for growing straw mushrooms, and the green economy aspect, such as not burning sugarcane leaves but using sugarcane leaves as compost in the plot. And 3) Models for empowering farmers to be able to sustainably rely on themselves, such as developing skills and knowledge in debt management, and forming farmer groups to increase bargaining power.