2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Agricultural cooperatives in Madagascar: impact on smallholders and rural development
| Project/Area Number |
18K05847
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Review Section |
Basic Section 41010:Agricultural and food economics-related
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| Research Institution | Kyoto University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
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| Keywords | Co-operative / Rural development / Madagascar |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
This research investigates the history and current situation of farmer co-operatives (co-ops) in Madagascar. One of the first co-ops was set up in the 1930s during the French colonization, and handled coffee and cloves exported to France. A co-op movement barely existed as the elites historically used co-ops as part of a broader effort to facilitate the extraction of resources from rural areas. From the early 2000s, however, there has been some momentum towards a “renaissance.” While some organizations formed organically, their weaknesses outweigh their strengths. Another co-op model compatible with global food markets has also been promoted and backed by agribusinesses. Co-ops were created to be included in contract farming arrangements. While these schemes have helped some farmers and communities and raised awareness on specific issues, it masks the exploitation that the production of export commodities is built upon and the issue of peasant differentiation.
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| Free Research Field |
食料農業経済関連
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| Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
Co-ops have been widely recognized as an important institution that can bring about socio-economic transformation. Their potential however has yet to become a reality. Using the case of Madagascar, I examined if co-ops are an effective form of organization to help improve farmer's livelihood.
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