Social Capital among Farmer Association members and non-members - a field study on inter- and intragroup trust in rural Mozambique
Abstract: Farmer associations are suggested a good tool to increase rural income and strengthen social ties among small-scale farmers. Strong social bonds can in turn generate social capital which is identified to matter significantly for development outcomes and poverty alleviation. Not much research has been devoted to how the formation of a farmer association affects group dynamics and social capital between villagers. Thus, using empirical data from a field study in two villages in rural Mozambique, this study examines trust between farmer association members and non-members and further explains the results using concepts derived from social capital theory such as bonding, bridging and linking social capital. Findings show great divergence in the level of intra- and intergroup trust in the villages. While one village shows fairly high overall trust, the other reveals fractions between association members and non-members. Thus, drawing on the result from the analysis, this study also illustrates the positive and negative outcomes derived from social networks and strong social capital. Finally, this thesis argues for increased horizontal cooperation between farmer associations and highlights the importance of a supportive government and a progressive legal framework aimed at facilitating the commercialization of small-scale agricultural production.
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