Discussion about A Model in Operation and Accumulation of Joint-Use Fund Management by Rice Farmer-groups

抄録

Substantial number of rice farmer-groups are established under the promotion of group farming policies in Thailand. The groups voluntarily form joint-use funds and operate their business with them. The objective of this study is to make the model of joint-use fund management by rice farmer-groups with two approaches: 1) observing the characteristics of successful cases in the rice farmer-groups established by two policies in Northeastern Thailand; and 2) simulating a fund management on the groups based on one case group in Khon Kaen province. The case groups established funds using the resources provided by the government. Through operating the group's business, members invest in-cash or in-kind input and pay the service charges into the fund. Then the accumulated capital was used for providing returns to members' investments and scaling-up the groups' business. Based on actual accounting data of one case group, we simulated revolving joint-use fund by rice farmer-group. The result showed that the group assumed to accumulate enough amount of assets to provide sufficient service for all members using the initial fund derived from government support. A conceptual model of joint-use fund management for the rice farmers group was described. The model will be utilized to guide rice farmer-groups in developing their business and becoming independent from government support.