Monitoring and Evaluation of Farmers’ Reconstruction and Development Fund Implementation in Upper-northern Region

Abstract

The purpose of the evaluation research is to study the level of farmers' opinions towards the operation of Farmers’ Reconstruction and Development Fund and to present guidelines for the development of the operation of the Farmers’ Reconstruction and Development Fund in Upper Northern Region such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Lamphun, Lampang, Phayao, Phrae, Nan, and Uttaradit. It is a mix-method research with sample consisted of 495 representatives of farmers' organizations and 90 key informants. The data collection tools are questionnaire, in-depth interview, and focus group discussion. An analytical data consist of frequency, mean, standard deviation and analyze the content according to strength, implementation of the plan, legal, personnel, and economic.

The finding of research show that 1) the opinions of the farmers as a whole are at a high level (=4.00, S.D.=0.46), in descending order as follows: the strength aspect (=4.11; S.D.=0.33) that to be the participation in management; the implementation of the plan (=4.06; S.D.=0.16) that to be the leaders’ knowledge to manage group; legal regulations (=3.95; S.D.=0.63) that to be caused the compliance with the prescribed regulations; personnel (=3.94; S.D.=0.63) that to be the leaders to develop strength organization with support from the staff; and economic benefits (=3.93; S.D.=0.57) that to be generated income and reduced production costs. 2) Guidelines for developing the operation of the Farmers’ Reconstruction and Development Fund as the strength should have a life plan and creating heirs to farmers; the implementation of the plan should proceed starting from the analysis of problem; legal should distribute management to the region; personnel should make a corporate database and develop learning resources; and economic benefit should develop a variety of marketing channels and manage liabilities linked to financial institutions. The body of knowledge from research indicates that the Farmers’ Reconstruction has played the main roles for developing farmers to be potential and apply for their sustainable life.