ปัจจัยที่มีอิทธิพลต่อความสามารถในการชำระหนี้ของลูกค้าที่เข้าร่วมโครงการพักชำระหนี้ของธนาคารเพื่อการเกษตรและสหกรณ์การเกษตร จังหวัดเชียงใหม่

Abstract

This study aimed to study the financial behaviors and factors affecting theability of members of BankforAgriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives who participated in Debt Deferment Programto repay debt. The study collected needed data from 300 farm households participating in debt deferment program of BAAC. They included 188 farm households who were able to repay debt to BAAC before the end of the deferment program (evaluated at the end of financial year 2013) and 112 farm householdswho were not able to repay debt. The socio-economic and financial behavioral data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. At the same time, the study employed logistic regression or logit model to find out factors affecting framers’ ability to repay debt under debt deferment program. The study on socio-economic characteristics of farm households revealed that majority of them were men with the age between 51-60 yearsand held primary school.They had 1-4 laborers in the households. On the average, the farm households who were able to repay debt had the total income of 301,171 baht/household with the total expenditures of 199,492 baht/household/year. On the contrary, their counterpart who were not able to repay debt had the average total income of 175,785 baht/household with the total expenditures of 168,169 baht/household/year. When considering personal behavior, majority of farm households whowere unable torepay debthad involved in gamblingand liquordrinkingbehavior as well as attending social events moreoften thantheir counterpart.Moreover, the saving behaviors of the two groups were similar. They did saving bydepositing cash in the bank.They had done financial plan in advance in order to avoid overspending. Most of them were considerably thrifty. They spent only on necessary items. Considering their practices on households' expenditure record keeping and knowledge on thrifty, the farm households who were able to repay debt had higher frequency of practicing households' expenditure record keeping than its counterpart. At the same time they alsohad better knowledge on thrifty. On the average, the farm households who were able to repay debt had total debt (both from formal and informal sources and short-run and long-run debt) of 200,322 bath/household. The farm households who were not able to repay debt had higher debt level (i.e. 239,071 baht/households). Majority of debt of both groups was from formal sources. The main reason for farm households to participate in debt deferment program was to lower their burden on debt repayment during that period. The study on factors that influence the ability of farmers to repay debt during participating the debt deferment program found that there were two factor positively and significantly contributed to the farmers’ ability to repay debt. They were the higher level of knowledge on thrifty and the higher frequency of practicing households' expenditure record keeping. Yet there were other 3 factors negatively and significantly associated with the farmers’ ability to repay debt.They included increasing age of the farm household heads and participation of farm households in gambling and liquor drinking behavior. The study on problems encounter by farm households revealed that economic fluctuation, rising wage rate and traders’ monopolized behavior in agricultural market were indicated by farmers in both groups. Yet these farmers also pointed that their concentration on mono-croppingand payment of un-necessary items could also cause problem for many farm households during their participation in debt deferment program. On the other hand, the BAAC officers who taking cate of the program reflexed that farmers’ lack of intention on debt, un-review of progressive, ignorance of debt burden, lack of stable income or occupation, lack of investment and suitable financial plan as well as lack of enough collateral were major problems caused farmers to remain indebtedness. Moreover, the BAAC’s officers also mentioned that some of farm household had involved in gambling and liquor drinking behavior. Some of them could not repay debt in time. Instead of repay debt some farm household used the money supposed to repay debt for other purposes. Many farm households could not have any reserve for emergency payment. Yet some of them also had problem of being co-borrower that caused them additional debt burden. The results of this study suggested that the farmersparticipating in debt deferment program would be able to repaydebt if they paid more attention on their debt and met frequently with officers who took care of the program. Besides, they should stay away from gambling and liquor drinking behavior. Last but not least, they were advised to form their financial plan and be strictly following their financial plan.