Farmers' cooperatives in Southwest China: Beyond the dichotomies of failure/success and (in) authenticity?
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
China has provided strong policy support for Farmers’ Cooperatives (FCs) in a bid to achieve its agricultural ambitions; however, scholars are divided on their contribution. Based upon three in-depth case studies, we interrogate the simple dichotomies used to describe FCs in China – authentic/inauthentic and failed/successful – arguing that FCs can have beneficial implications for smallholder livelihoods regardless of their organisation, operation and viability. Our research finds that local leadership and smallholder-led initiatives are more important than the authenticity and success of local FCs. We therefore call for a more nuanced understanding of the value of FCs and propose that resources should be diverted to other smallholder-led avenues to sustain China's rural development.
Journal
Outlook on Agriculture
Publication Name
Outlook on Agriculture
Volume
53
ISBN/ISSN
2043-6866
Edition
N/A
Issue
1
Pages Count
12
Location
N/A
Publisher
Sage
Publisher Url
N/A
Publisher Location
N/A
Publish Date
N/A
Url
N/A
Date
N/A
EISSN
N/A
DOI
10.1177/00307270231220068