Massey Documents by Type

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/294

Browse

Filters

2021 - 20242

Settings

Subject: search.filters.subject.membership

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The role of producer organisations : the economic impact of membership on smallholder tea farmers in Myanmar : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agribusiness at Massey University, School of Agriculture and Environment, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024) Naw Diana
    Myanmar, despite its ideal climate conditions for tea cultivation and its being one of the major tea producers, smallholder tea farmers in the country face numerous challenges, including limited access to value-addition techniques, market information, affordable credit, and adequate infrastructure. Numerous studies suggest that producer organisations can address these issues by providing technical training, facilitating market access, and enabling collective bargaining, among other benefits. However, there is a significant research gap in understanding the economic impact of these organisations on Myanmar's tea industry. This study addresses this gap by exploring how producer organisations influence farmers' decisions to join and how membership subsequently affects their profitability. The study adopts a quantitative research approach using survey data collection methods. Before the survey, pre-interviews were conducted to gather insights and develop a comprehensive and relevant survey questionnaire. A survey was conducted with 400 smallholder tea farmers, comprising 239 members and 161 non-members of producer organisations. Econometric techniques, including probit regression and propensity score matching (PSM), were used to analyse the data. The probit regression model identified significant factors influencing the decision to join producer organisations, such as certification, access to market information, extension services, and education level. Specifically, certification increased the likelihood of joining by 89%, access to market information by 24%, extension services by 43% and education by 5.33%. In addition, the impact of membership on profit per acre was assessed using PSM, which revealed that membership significantly enhances profitability. The Nearest Neighbour Matching (NNM) and Radius Matching (RM) methods showed that membership results in significant average profit increases of 698,094 MMK and 640,183 MMK per acre, respectively. These results indicate that membership in producer organisations significantly enhances the profitability of smallholder tea farmers. The study suggests that encouraging wider participation in producer organisations is essential for enhancing the economic outcomes of more farmers. Producer organisations should strengthen their efforts, particularly in remote and less accessible areas, to inform farmers of membership benefits. Furthermore, governments and NGOs should actively support the development of producer organisations. Strengthening producer organisations' roles in facilitating certification, improving market linkages, and supporting sustainable farming practices will contribute to Myanmar's tea industry's long-term growth and sustainability.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    “Knocking on the door to integration”: Korean immigrants’ stories of seeking membership in Aotearoa New Zealand society
    (Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers, 2/05/2021) Kim H
    INTRODUCTION: While citizens of Aotearoa New Zealand are granted full participation regardless of racial and cultural background, Asian immigrants appear exempt from the benefits of inclusion. For many, immigration is a stress-inducing journey with resultant socio-economic marginalisation adversely impacting on their participation in society. METHODS: Theoretically underpinned by symbolic interactionism, this Straussian-grounded theoretical study explored how nine South Koreans re-constructed life after immigration. Semi- structured interviews were analysed using open, axial and selective coding. FINDINGS: To re-establish their lives, participants gradually “knock on the door to integration” while retaining a sense of safety in their ethnic community. This process continues until they find a place where they are recognised as a member of society. In this sense, “seeking membership” is what participants try to achieve in the host society. CONCLUSION: If we want to be at the forefront of efforts to address ethnic minority groups’ life-challenges, social work practice must include specific competencies in assisting Asian immigrants, helping them to master their new surroundings and endorse their equal membership in society.