The 2012 RUFORUM Biennial Conference is the third in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholders in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. The third Biennial Conference was attended by 657 participants. This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme Value Chains and Innovation Platform.
Analysis of Critical Factors Influencing Performance of Fish Farmer Organisations in Dowa and Mchinji District in Central Malawi
Abstract:
This study is being carried out to determine critical factors that
affect performance of fish farmer organisations in Malawi as
part of the RUFORUM Community Action Research
programme (CARP). Five fish farmer organisations with a total
of 70 farmers in Mchinji and Dowa districts in the Central Region
of Malawi are being used as case studies. Specific issues that
are being studied include organisational set up and development,
characterisation of the organisations, organisational structure
and systems and socioeconomic characteristics and profiles of
members within the organisations. Preliminary results showed
that the fish farmer organisations have loose governance
structures and systems which inevitably could ‘defeat’ collective
action. It was also noted that the organisations did not have
institutional design principles that act as guide for organisations
to achieve intended outcomes. Results also showed that income
generation, household food security and access to credit facilities
were major motivating factors that acted as incentives for
becoming members of fish farmer organisations. This implies
that members had various expected benefits from the organisations which if not fulfilled may have significant negative
influence on performance of the organisations. Achievement
of such benefits could come to realisation if farmer
organisations are empowered to undertake sustainable collective
action.
Cette étude est menée pour déterminer les facteurs critiques
qui affectent la performance des organisations de pisciculteurs
au Malawi dans le cadre du programme communautaire de
recherche-action de RUFORUM (CARP). Cinq organisations
de pisciculteurs avec un total de 70 agriculteurs dans les districts de Mchinji et de Dowa dans la région centrale du Malawi sont
utilisées comme études de cas. Les questions spécifiques qui
sont à l’étude comprennent la situation organisationnelle et son
développement, la caractérisation des organisations, la structure
organisationnelle et les systèmes, et les caractéristiques socioéconomiques
et les profils des membres au sein des
organisations. Les résultats préliminaires ont montré que les
organisations de pisciculteurs ont des structures et des systèmes
de gouvernance mobiles qui, inévitablement, pourraient
empêcher l’action collective. Il a également été noté que les
organisations n’avaient pas les principes institutionnels de
conception qui agissent comme guide pour les organisations afin
d’atteindre les résultats escomptés. Les résultats ont également
montré que la génération de revenus, la sécurité alimentaire
des ménages et l’accès aux facilités de paiement étaient les
principaux facteurs de motivation qui ont agi comme des
incitations à adhérer aux organisations de pisciculteurs. Ceci
implique que les membres ont divers avantages attendus des
organisations qui, s’ils ne sont remplis, peuvent avoir une forte influence négative sur la performance des organisations. La
réalisation de ces avantages pourrait être possible si les
organisations paysannes sont habilitées à procéder à une action
collective durable.
Language:
Extended abstract under Strengthening S&T Capacity in Africa
Date of publication:
2012
Country:
Region Focus:
Southern Africa
Collection:
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Agris Subject Categories:
Agrovoc terms:
Additional keywords:
Licence conditions:
Open Access
Form:
Printed resource
Publisher:
Notes:
