International Journal of Rural Management, Ahead of Print.
The objective of this article is to describe the dynamics of fair trade in organisations that adhered to the Fair Trade International system, based on the principles of fair trade and the dimensions of social innovation, and to identify why there was a disruption in commercial transactions. Four organisations from the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, which won the fair trade seal, were analysed. Primary data collection occurred through semi-structured interviews and simultaneous annotations and, later, secondary data were collected from official documents, articles, academic works and websites. The results show that the experiences of organisations with Fair Trade International have numerous properties of the dimensions of social innovation. There was the emergence of an emerging development model with the opportunity to work collaboratively and collectively. These changes required adaptation and new practices, as producers underwent a period of changes in their working and production. The formation of cooperatives and fair trade certification had the mobilisation and participation of various actors, who also provided collective learning, both in technical terms and in terms of civic and interpersonal management, especially for rural producers.
Category Archives: International Journal of Rural Management
Innovation in Irrigated Fields in a Semi-arid Region: Southeastern Spain Case
International Journal of Rural Management, Ahead of Print.
In Spain, in the last 25 years (1996–2020), more than a million and a half hectares of irrigated land have been modernised with irrigation systems. Almost half of this irrigated surface is immersed in a second generation of modernisation in order to be more efficient and save water and energy. This represents a strategic issue in a climate crisis scenario, to assure the quantity and quality of the productions of these irrigable areas, bases of market supply, agro-industries and sources of employment. Throughout this process, innovation was experienced (pressure irrigation, deficit irrigation, accurate irrigation, fertigation and nutrient solution, energy self-consumption, new crop varieties, hydroponic cultivation with or without substratum, etc.). The drivers of these innovations are the harvesting-exporting companies and the irrigation communities. This research is a diachronic study of regional geography; data are provided by official statistics and through extensive fieldwork and interviews with managers. The objective is to explain the irrigation innovation techniques undertaken in the semi-arid environment of Southeastern Spain, one of the driest regions in Europe.
In Spain, in the last 25 years (1996–2020), more than a million and a half hectares of irrigated land have been modernised with irrigation systems. Almost half of this irrigated surface is immersed in a second generation of modernisation in order to be more efficient and save water and energy. This represents a strategic issue in a climate crisis scenario, to assure the quantity and quality of the productions of these irrigable areas, bases of market supply, agro-industries and sources of employment. Throughout this process, innovation was experienced (pressure irrigation, deficit irrigation, accurate irrigation, fertigation and nutrient solution, energy self-consumption, new crop varieties, hydroponic cultivation with or without substratum, etc.). The drivers of these innovations are the harvesting-exporting companies and the irrigation communities. This research is a diachronic study of regional geography; data are provided by official statistics and through extensive fieldwork and interviews with managers. The objective is to explain the irrigation innovation techniques undertaken in the semi-arid environment of Southeastern Spain, one of the driest regions in Europe.
Farmer Producer Organisations in North India: Potentials and Challenges
International Journal of Rural Management, Ahead of Print.
This article seeks to analyse the current business model of FPOs to understand socio-economic consequences for individual members. The study selected 10 farmer producer organisations from Uttar Pradesh, India considering diversity along with geographical location, the field of operation and business model. In total, 10% of the villages covered by each chosen FPO and 5 members from each selected village were randomly selected for data collection. Two separate schedules for FPOs and members were administered for data collection. The study found that FPO members, particularly small and marginal farmers, experienced a positive socio-economic impact on their lives due to exposure to new techniques and enhanced bargaining power due to collectivisation. However, lack of capital due to constraints in accessing finance from banks was found to be a major challenge. The article concludes by underlining what needs to be done to make FPOs sustainable.
This article seeks to analyse the current business model of FPOs to understand socio-economic consequences for individual members. The study selected 10 farmer producer organisations from Uttar Pradesh, India considering diversity along with geographical location, the field of operation and business model. In total, 10% of the villages covered by each chosen FPO and 5 members from each selected village were randomly selected for data collection. Two separate schedules for FPOs and members were administered for data collection. The study found that FPO members, particularly small and marginal farmers, experienced a positive socio-economic impact on their lives due to exposure to new techniques and enhanced bargaining power due to collectivisation. However, lack of capital due to constraints in accessing finance from banks was found to be a major challenge. The article concludes by underlining what needs to be done to make FPOs sustainable.
Transformation of Heritage into Assets for Income Enhancement: Access to Bank Credit for Vietnamese Community-based Tourism Homestays
International Journal of Rural Management, Ahead of Print.
The failure to transform heritage into assets is one of the main constraints for community-based tourism development. This article shows how access to bank credit contributes to income enhancement among ethnic minorities involving community-based tourism homestays. A multistage sampling technique and direct interviews using questionnaires were used to collect a rich dataset of a total 262 homestays in Northwestern Vietnam. To deal with model uncertainty, the approach of double-selection lasso logistic regression applied to Propensity Score Matching was used. Results show that credit recipients increased their total income level from US$180.11 to US$228.58 with an average of US$194.63 compared to non-recipients based on four different matching algorithms. The results suggest that the provision of bank credit should be expanded to enhance income for homestays. To facilitate homestay access to bank credit, stronger collaboration between homestays and travel agencies, better access to training and the adoption of a mobile-based banking platform by homestays are all needed. Smartphone-based credit services to homestays have the potential to reduce transaction costs of accessing credit for mountainous regions. Results imply that heritage can serve as productive assets via financial leverage.
The failure to transform heritage into assets is one of the main constraints for community-based tourism development. This article shows how access to bank credit contributes to income enhancement among ethnic minorities involving community-based tourism homestays. A multistage sampling technique and direct interviews using questionnaires were used to collect a rich dataset of a total 262 homestays in Northwestern Vietnam. To deal with model uncertainty, the approach of double-selection lasso logistic regression applied to Propensity Score Matching was used. Results show that credit recipients increased their total income level from US$180.11 to US$228.58 with an average of US$194.63 compared to non-recipients based on four different matching algorithms. The results suggest that the provision of bank credit should be expanded to enhance income for homestays. To facilitate homestay access to bank credit, stronger collaboration between homestays and travel agencies, better access to training and the adoption of a mobile-based banking platform by homestays are all needed. Smartphone-based credit services to homestays have the potential to reduce transaction costs of accessing credit for mountainous regions. Results imply that heritage can serve as productive assets via financial leverage.
The Hiring of Labour for Field Cultivation: A Study in the Brahmaputra Valley of Northeast India
International Journal of Rural Management, Volume 19, Issue 2, Page 274-297, August 2023.
On the basis of household-level data, the present study examines the hiring of farm labour in the Brahmaputra Valley of Assam in the north-eastern part of India. By adopting a multi-stage sampling technique, the primary data were collected from 237 randomly selected field crop cultivating households located in the lower, upper and central parts of the Brahmaputra Valley. The hiring of labour for field cultivation is extensive among the sample farm households of all size groups, but it varies across locations and activities. There are three forms of farm labour hiring, among which the hiring of labour on daily basis is common and pre-dominant. The wage of farm labourers is not same across activities, sex and locations. The estimation of independent double hurdle model depicts the farm size, type of cultivator and age of head of the household as the common factors that affect both the adoption and the extent of hiring of farm labour. The availability of family labour is another factor that affects the extent of hiring of farm labour.
On the basis of household-level data, the present study examines the hiring of farm labour in the Brahmaputra Valley of Assam in the north-eastern part of India. By adopting a multi-stage sampling technique, the primary data were collected from 237 randomly selected field crop cultivating households located in the lower, upper and central parts of the Brahmaputra Valley. The hiring of labour for field cultivation is extensive among the sample farm households of all size groups, but it varies across locations and activities. There are three forms of farm labour hiring, among which the hiring of labour on daily basis is common and pre-dominant. The wage of farm labourers is not same across activities, sex and locations. The estimation of independent double hurdle model depicts the farm size, type of cultivator and age of head of the household as the common factors that affect both the adoption and the extent of hiring of farm labour. The availability of family labour is another factor that affects the extent of hiring of farm labour.
The Occupation of Last Resort? Determinants of Farming Choices of Small Farmers in Nigeria
International Journal of Rural Management, Volume 19, Issue 2, Page 298-318, August 2023.
In Nigeria, there is a stigma associated with small farming. There is also the assumption that farming is the occupation of last resort. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence to support or dispute these assertions. We examine data from 2,446 small farmers intending to find the answer to some lingering questions. Are farmers in the occupation out of choice or a lack of options? Are farmers generally satisfied with their jobs? Do most farmers have the intention to quit? Contrary to postulations that farming in Nigeria is the occupation of last resort, we find that Nigerian farmers choose to farm and take pride in their job. Notably, 67% have been farming for over 10 years, and 89% intend to continue. The logit regression suggests that job satisfaction, age, education and livestock ownership influence farmers’ intent to quit. We conclude that the government needs to make agriculture more attractive for younger and more educated farmers. This may be achieved through policies and interventions that prioritise improving rural infrastructure, address volatility, limit market fluctuations, remove barriers to markets for local farmers and facilitate the agricultural value chain so that agriculture can thrive as a business.
In Nigeria, there is a stigma associated with small farming. There is also the assumption that farming is the occupation of last resort. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence to support or dispute these assertions. We examine data from 2,446 small farmers intending to find the answer to some lingering questions. Are farmers in the occupation out of choice or a lack of options? Are farmers generally satisfied with their jobs? Do most farmers have the intention to quit? Contrary to postulations that farming in Nigeria is the occupation of last resort, we find that Nigerian farmers choose to farm and take pride in their job. Notably, 67% have been farming for over 10 years, and 89% intend to continue. The logit regression suggests that job satisfaction, age, education and livestock ownership influence farmers’ intent to quit. We conclude that the government needs to make agriculture more attractive for younger and more educated farmers. This may be achieved through policies and interventions that prioritise improving rural infrastructure, address volatility, limit market fluctuations, remove barriers to markets for local farmers and facilitate the agricultural value chain so that agriculture can thrive as a business.
Staffing and Retention Challenges of Teachers in Rural Schools of Eswatini: The Case of the Lubombo Region
International Journal of Rural Management, Ahead of Print.
This article draws attention to staffing and retention challenges that teachers face in rural schools in Eswatini. Despite policies and strategies developed by the Ministry of Education and Training, retention and staffing challenges continue unabated in rural schools. The continuing challenges indicate that limited success is achieved with the implementation of staffing and retention strategies. Drawing on staffing and retention literature, coupled with empirical data derived from teachers and head teachers in the Lubombo Region in Eswatini, this article proposes an alternative, multifaceted contextual approach to reducing staffing and retention challenges. A focus on lived rural and teaching experiences at rural schools offsets the abstract and one-dimensional universal approach to staffing and retaining teachers adopted by the office of the Teaching Service Commission in the Ministry of Education and Training in Eswatini. The article recommends that the office of the Teaching Service Commission should follow a context-specific differentiated approach based on thick analysis of staffing and retention challenges of teachers in rural schools.
This article draws attention to staffing and retention challenges that teachers face in rural schools in Eswatini. Despite policies and strategies developed by the Ministry of Education and Training, retention and staffing challenges continue unabated in rural schools. The continuing challenges indicate that limited success is achieved with the implementation of staffing and retention strategies. Drawing on staffing and retention literature, coupled with empirical data derived from teachers and head teachers in the Lubombo Region in Eswatini, this article proposes an alternative, multifaceted contextual approach to reducing staffing and retention challenges. A focus on lived rural and teaching experiences at rural schools offsets the abstract and one-dimensional universal approach to staffing and retaining teachers adopted by the office of the Teaching Service Commission in the Ministry of Education and Training in Eswatini. The article recommends that the office of the Teaching Service Commission should follow a context-specific differentiated approach based on thick analysis of staffing and retention challenges of teachers in rural schools.
Traditional Knowledge and Practices in Natural Resource Conservation: A Study of the Zukpiri Community Resource Management Area, Ghana
International Journal of Rural Management, Volume 19, Issue 2, Page 253-273, August 2023.
Local communities have different perspectives, uses and values ascribed to the diversity of plant and animal species at their service. Yet, local knowledge of the species diversity and use values, alongside conservation decisions and practices, received inadequate scholarly discussion. This article explores how local knowledge of species diversity (flora and fauna) and use values inform decisions for conserving natural resources in the Zukpiri Community Resource Management Area (CREMA).Using the qualitative research approach, seven focus group discussions were held with the Zukpiri CREMA Committees and supported with key informant interviews. The results showed that the CREMA hosts a great diversity of plant and animal species. Customary rules and regulations embedded in customs, traditional beliefs and practices are used in governing, protecting and conserving CREMA’s resources. Drawing on the organisational structure of the CREMA framework in Ghana, we suggest that the Forestry Commission of Ghana should intensify its collaborative role with the Community Resource Management Committees (CRMCs) to monitor illegal logging in and around the CREMA. Furthermore, traditional knowledge systems in line with conservational practices should be projected by the responsible state institutions.
Local communities have different perspectives, uses and values ascribed to the diversity of plant and animal species at their service. Yet, local knowledge of the species diversity and use values, alongside conservation decisions and practices, received inadequate scholarly discussion. This article explores how local knowledge of species diversity (flora and fauna) and use values inform decisions for conserving natural resources in the Zukpiri Community Resource Management Area (CREMA).Using the qualitative research approach, seven focus group discussions were held with the Zukpiri CREMA Committees and supported with key informant interviews. The results showed that the CREMA hosts a great diversity of plant and animal species. Customary rules and regulations embedded in customs, traditional beliefs and practices are used in governing, protecting and conserving CREMA’s resources. Drawing on the organisational structure of the CREMA framework in Ghana, we suggest that the Forestry Commission of Ghana should intensify its collaborative role with the Community Resource Management Committees (CRMCs) to monitor illegal logging in and around the CREMA. Furthermore, traditional knowledge systems in line with conservational practices should be projected by the responsible state institutions.
Upgrading Opportunities and Challenges for Small Coffee Producers in Sidama Region of Ethiopia
International Journal of Rural Management, Volume 19, Issue 2, Page 234-252, August 2023.
This study attempted to examine upgrading opportunities and challenges for small coffee producers. The study followed a mixed-method approach, which combined qualitative and quantitative analysis. The study involved a survey of 214 coffee producers, in-depth interviews with several actors and stakeholders, and focus group discussions with two farmer groups. The study identified a growing demand for organic/specialty coffee, availability of farmer groups, promising rules and regulations as some of the opportunities for small coffee producers to diversify upgrading options. However, lack of investment capital, lower levels of farmers’ educational background, lack of continuous training, poor infrastructure and irrigation facilities, the high cost of machinery and processing materials, lack of technical knowledge to produce input and adopt new technologies were the major constraints for upgrading. The majority of producers have participated in product and process upgrading. A limited number of coffee growers have engaged in functional and channel upgrading. Vertical and horizontal coordination can play an important role in upgrading the chain to help farmers compete in wider markets. Therefore, a policy aimed to accelerate the coffee sector in the area could be successful if the opportunities and constraints are taken into consideration through horizontal and vertical coordination of actors.
This study attempted to examine upgrading opportunities and challenges for small coffee producers. The study followed a mixed-method approach, which combined qualitative and quantitative analysis. The study involved a survey of 214 coffee producers, in-depth interviews with several actors and stakeholders, and focus group discussions with two farmer groups. The study identified a growing demand for organic/specialty coffee, availability of farmer groups, promising rules and regulations as some of the opportunities for small coffee producers to diversify upgrading options. However, lack of investment capital, lower levels of farmers’ educational background, lack of continuous training, poor infrastructure and irrigation facilities, the high cost of machinery and processing materials, lack of technical knowledge to produce input and adopt new technologies were the major constraints for upgrading. The majority of producers have participated in product and process upgrading. A limited number of coffee growers have engaged in functional and channel upgrading. Vertical and horizontal coordination can play an important role in upgrading the chain to help farmers compete in wider markets. Therefore, a policy aimed to accelerate the coffee sector in the area could be successful if the opportunities and constraints are taken into consideration through horizontal and vertical coordination of actors.
La Rioja in a Cheese
International Journal of Rural Management, Volume 19, Issue 2, Page 319-329, August 2023.
The ways in which people produce and consume food reveal both historical and contemporary dynamics attached to environmental and social factors. La Rioja is a Spanish region located in the northern area of the Iberian Peninsula which is famous for its wine. However, it also has a cheese which dates to the Medieval Ages. La Rioja landscapes and lifestyles are embedded in Camerano cheese, which is made in the Sierra de Cameros with a Protected Designation of Origin. The value chain of Camerano cheese is based on a close connection between people, places and practices. Drawing from a case study method and supported by a visual auto ethnography, results reveal the relevance of Camerano cheese and its trajectory from ancient to modern times from the perspective of local actors. While La Rioja wine may eclipse La Rioja cheese, this article adds to the understanding of local products as part of the narratives of food as a path to protect and promote local identities.
The ways in which people produce and consume food reveal both historical and contemporary dynamics attached to environmental and social factors. La Rioja is a Spanish region located in the northern area of the Iberian Peninsula which is famous for its wine. However, it also has a cheese which dates to the Medieval Ages. La Rioja landscapes and lifestyles are embedded in Camerano cheese, which is made in the Sierra de Cameros with a Protected Designation of Origin. The value chain of Camerano cheese is based on a close connection between people, places and practices. Drawing from a case study method and supported by a visual auto ethnography, results reveal the relevance of Camerano cheese and its trajectory from ancient to modern times from the perspective of local actors. While La Rioja wine may eclipse La Rioja cheese, this article adds to the understanding of local products as part of the narratives of food as a path to protect and promote local identities.