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Community transformation through certified organic cotton initiatives—an analysis of case studies in Peru, Tanzania and India

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 January 2020

Christine Altenbuchner Open the ORCID record for Christine Altenbuchner [Opens in a new window] ,
Stefan Vogel  and
Manuela Larcher
Christine Altenbuchner*
Affiliation:
Christine Altenbuchner, Researcher, Institute of Sustainable Economic Development, University of Natural Resources and Life Science (BOKU), Feistmantelstraße 4, 1180Vienna, Austria
Stefan Vogel
Affiliation:
Stefan Vogel, Researcher (Professor), Institute of Sustainable Economic Development, University of Natural Resources and Life Science (BOKU), Feistmantelstraße 4, 1180Vienna, Austria
Manuela Larcher
Affiliation:
Manuela Larcher, Researcher, Institute of Sustainable Economic Development, University of Natural Resources and Life Science (BOKU), Feistmantelstraße 4, 1180, Vienna, Austria
*
Author for correspondence: Christine Altenbuchner, E-mail: christine.altenbuchner@boku.ac.at
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Abstract

This paper examines how certified organic cotton initiatives (COCIs) influence community capitals in rural Peru, Tanzania and India using the community capitals framework (CCF). Case study analyses, including qualitative interviews of farmers, expert interviews and participatory observations, were conducted in Northern Peru, Northern Tanzania and Eastern India. The results show slight changes in community capitals in Peru, while comprehensive changes and spiraling-up effects were triggered by certified organic cotton farming initiatives in Tanzania and India. These community developments strongly depended on set measures, such as the extent of (1) partnership (e.g., contract farming), (2) input support (e.g., seeds, loans, community infrastructure), (3) capacity building (through training and advisory services), (4) group formation and (5) formation of cooperatives. Favorable environmental conditions and supporting local institutions facilitated spiraling-up effects, while social preconditions (e.g., gender inequality) strongly limited these effects. The research showed that COCIs have considerable potential to trigger spiraling-up effects in rural communities. However, the capacity strongly depends on the respective initiative and its ability to involve and empower farmers, i.e., to build up human and social capital.

Keywords

Community capitals frameworkimprovement of livelihoodIndiaorganic cotton productionPerusmallholder farmerssustainable developmentTanzania
Type
Research Paper
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 36 , Issue 1 , February 2021 , pp. 38 - 53
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2020

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