1 st Mae Fah Luang University International Conference 2012 1 A STUDY OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF THE FARMERS DEBT: CASE STUDY OF BAN NONG MAI GAN, THA CHAMUANG, RATTAPHUM, SONGKHLA PROVINCE Wandee Nuansoi 1 Supattra Penkleng 2 1,2 Affiliation author : Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, Rattaphum College, Songkhla, Thailand email: 1 wandee.nu@rmutsv.ac.th, 2 suppattra.p@rmutsv.ac.th Abstract:This research aims to investigate socio-economic status of the famers resided in Ban Nong Mai Gan village, Thachamuang, Rattaphum, Songkhla Province. By statistically analyzing factors affected the amount of farmer household debt per unit and the participation in the debt settlement project launched by the government. The data used in this study collected from the questionnaires, descriptive and t- test statistics to explain the socio- economic status and find out factors affected to the debt amount per household. The result revealed that most of the household leaders were male. Their average age was 49, 3-4 persons were their average family members. 2-3 of them were agricultural labors. 41.70 percent graduated from the primary schools 1 or 2 persons of each family were in schools and 0-1 person was a dependent family member. 60.8 percent of them live on rubber plantation. 31.70 percent of them were farmers. 38 percent of the farmers were part time job employees and 28 percent of them were retailers, respectively. 11.70 Rai was their occupied land or their agriculture area. 65 percent of the households had their own savings with the average of 60,000 THB. The average revenue from the agricultural sector was 119,681.90 THB and the average off- farm income was 70,247.90 THB per household. The capital invested in farming was 19,204.25. Most expenditure was on fertilizer. The consuming expend was based on food, car purchase and maintenance, children education at 93,624.81 THB, most spent on their daily allowance, Social activities cost 16,948.28 THB. The average debt per household was 138,414.29 THB. Most of the households had borrowed money from the village fund to be used in their farming and daily lives. According to the debt settlement policy, the farmers joined the village fund for it was the most convenient channel for them to contact the government sector. From the above mention can be concluded that nine variables: Age, Education Level, Number of household members, Number of Land Holding, Income from farm activities, Income from off-farm activities, Expense of the consumer, Expenditure on farm and Social cost were related to the debt amount. Keywords: socio- economic status, debt condition, household, debt settlement