What is the problem in rural areas?

From the Socio-Economic Survey of Agricultural Households conducted by the Office of the Agricultural Economics, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in the crop year 1995-1996 we obtain the general characteristics of agricultural households as follows. The majority of household heads, 90.9 percent, are male, with the average age of 49 years. The average household size is 4.83 persons with average size of household labour of 2.48 persons. Most household heads, 76.19 percent, have only primary education; none have gone up to the college level. The average farm size is 25.12 rai. Only 44.92 percent of households have access to irrigation. The annual average per capita net income is 5 325 baht for a small farm size, 14 404 baht for farms of the size 10-29 rai, 10 064 baht for 30-59 rai and 6 848 baht for 60 rai and over. As expected, irrigated farms generate higher income than non-irrigated ones. The average short-term loan is 9 205 baht per household, the average medium term loan is 8 636 baht and the long-term loan is 14 566 baht per household. The characteristics of agricultural households in Thailand have changed little despite high rates of economic growth during this time. They are poor, with low education; they lack management skills needed for operating farms. They have no control over big capital, investment and the market. Besides, consumerism is widespread in rural areas. Cash economy reduces the capacity of rural households to get basic life necessities. Medical care, personal and children's education, management and professional skills are difficult to obtain without cash. This limitation puts farmers in a disadvantageous position in the fiercely competitive market. Moreover, money is misused on non-necessities and gambling. Their capacity to play an active role in building their civil society is discounted by the centralization of economic and political power.

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