2026-09-27T06:40:19Zhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/server/oai/requestoai:mro.massey.ac.nz:10179/9712025-11-11T14:16:49Zcom_10179_10563com_10179_568com_10179_294col_10179_10564col_10179_296
DSpace at Massey University
author
Beban, Alice
2009-08-19T03:48:04Z
NO_RESTRICTION2009-08-19T03:48:04Z
2008
http://hdl.handle.net/10179/971
Q112876984
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q112876984
This thesis explores claims that organic agriculture may be an empowering development
strategy by investigating the impacts of conversion to organic farming systems on the
lives of small-scale farmers in Cambodia. The thesis interrogates the diverse uses and
abuses of the term =empowerment‘ in development rhetoric and argues for an
empowerment model that is derived from farmers‘ self-defined concepts of
development. This model was used to conduct a qualitative case study involving semistructured
interviews and focus groups with members of organics initiatives in seven
diverse Cambodian communities.
Results indicate that many farmers in all communities felt that their most important
objective was not only to achieve food security, but to be able to grow sufficient rice to
feed their family. Farmers joined the organics initiatives primarily to improve their health
and reduce the cost of farming inputs. As a result of joining the initiatives, all farmers
(including both certified and non-certified organic farmers) felt they had improved their
health and food security. Most farmers also increased incomes, created stronger family
and community ties and felt they had more control over their livelihoods. These benefits
were not, however, distributed equally amongst individuals or communities. Very poor
and isolated farmers could not generally access benefits. The three main factors that
determined the impact of the organics initiatives on farmer empowerment were identified
as: the individual‘s level of resources, the strength of the farmer group, and the policies
and values of the supporting organisation.
The implications for future initiatives are, firstly, the tremendous potential for farmers
and wider rural communities to benefit from organic agriculture as a development
strategy. However, this study also shows that if organics is to be viable for low-resource
people, it may be necessary to promote both resources and techniques in organics
initiatives. Also, a focus on building strong relationships both within the farmers group
and linkages with local and wider stakeholders may enhance long-term sustainability of
organics initiatives.
en
The Author
Organic farming
Empowerment
Development strategy
Development initiatives
Organic agriculture: an empowering development strategy for small-scale farmers? A Cambodian case study : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Thesis
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