Sustainable livelihood approachesConcepts and their application in research on organic cotton farming in India

Sustainable livelihood approachesConcepts and their application in research on organic cotton farming in India

Frank EyhornHelvetas Organic & Fairtrade Competence Centre

ZieleZiele

Kennenlernen des Sustainable Livelihood Approach

Illustration seiner Anwendung in einem konkreten Fallbeispiel (Bio-Baumwolle Indien)

Anwendung des Konzeptes anhand des eigenen Livelihood Systems

Übertragung auf die personelle Entwicklungszusammenarbeit

What happens at the other end of the chain?What happens at the other end of the chain?

“100% organic cotton“ - ???

Challenges in cotton farmingChallenges in cotton farming

Cotton Worldwide ~ 100 Mio. farmers Important economic sector in many

developing countries Production involves environmental

and health hazards Decreasing net returns for farmers,

increasing indebtedness

Organic cotton farming Increasing number of farmers grow

organic cotton Growing market demand

Is organic cotton farming a viable alternative?

Case study: the Maikaal bioRe initiative in Central IndiaCase study: the Maikaal bioRe initiative in Central India

Located in the Narmada Valley in Madhya Pradesh

Organic nutrient and pest management of the entire farm (robust varieties, organic manures, intercropping, botanical sprays etc.)

No synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, GMO

Company with 1’500 associated certified organic farms (now: 7’900)

Extension and internal control system 20% organic price premium on local

market prices for cotton

India

In search of a conceptual approach...In search of a conceptual approach...

Criteria for a reference frame

1. Help in formulating relevant questions for the analysis of impact and of decision making

2. Allow meaningful interpretation of observable behaviour

3. Be based on respect for the societies and actors to which it applies

Two possible conceptual approachesTwo possible conceptual approaches

1) The Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (DFID 1999)

Vulnerability

Context

Shocks

Trends

Seasonality

P F

S

H

N

Transforming

structures

and

processes

Livelihood

strategies

Livelihood

outcomes

LivelihoodAssets

2) The Rural Livelihood Systems Mandala (RLS-Mandala) (Högger 1994)

inner reality outer reality

Physical

Base

Knowledge& Activity

Base

Emotional Base

Socio-economic

Space

Family

Space

Inner Human Space

Collective

Orientation

Family

Orientation

Individual

Orientation

Physical

Base

Knowledge& Activity

Base

Emotional Base

Socio-economic

Space

Family

Space

Inner Human Space

Collective

Orientation

Family

Orientation

Individual

Orientation

Physical

Base

Knowledge& Activity

Base

Emotional Base

Socio-economic

Space

Family

Space

Inner Human Space

Collective

Orientation

Family

Orientation

Individual

Orientation

Developing the framework step by stepDeveloping the framework step by step

1. In how far does the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (DFID) help us to tackle the research question?

2. What can the RLS-Mandala contribute to a more holistic understanding of livelihoods of (organic) cotton farmers?

3. Combining the two approaches and testing the framework in research on organic cotton farming in India

The example of farmer Vishnu Gangaram

The Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (DFID 1999)The Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (DFID 1999)

Vulnerability

Context

Shocks

Trends

Seasonality

P F

S

H

N

Transforming

structures

and

processes

Livelihood

strategies

Livelihood

outcomes

LivelihoodAssets

Decreasing soil fertility decli-ning yields

Declining in-come, increas-ing debts

Maikaal bioRe: extension, price premium

High input costs, low cotton prices, droughts

New trade rela-tion, better price, less risk

Conversion to organic farming

Know-how on organic farming methods, skills

Better soil fer-tility, less costs, more income

Use of fertilizers; exclusion from the project

?„Money to buy inputs“?

„Good monsoon“?

H = Human Capital S = Social CapitalN = Natural Capital P = Physical CapitalF = Financial Capital

inner reality outer reality

The Rural Livelihood Systems-MandalaThe Rural Livelihood Systems-Mandala

(Högger 1994)

9. Individual

Orientation

e.g. self-image of being a progressive farmer / a leader

8. Family

Orientation

e.g. caste affiliation, ambitions for the children’s future

7. Collective

Orientation

e.g. image of organic farming in the village

6. Inner Human

Space

e.g. pride on being a good farmer (= high yields)

5. Family Space

e.g. division of tasks and decisions

4. Socio-economic

Space

e.g. relation with traders, access to markets

3. Emotional

Base

e.g. attachments to the land and to farming

2. Knowledge and

Activity Base

e.g. cropping patterns, farming methods, readiness to learn new things

1. Physical

Base

e.g. access to fertile land and irrigation water

Additional dimensions

Blending Elements from the Livelihood-Frameworks of DFID and RLSBlending Elements from the Livelihood-Frameworks of DFID and RLS

www.poverty-wellbeing.net

Research questionsResearch questions

What is the impact of organic farming on the livelihoods of farmers?

What does the adoption of organic farming mean to a farm household?

... and approach... and approach

System comparison study

(quantitative)

Adoption analysis study

(qualitative)

Can adoption of organic farming be meaningfully integrated into a livelihood strategy that enables the farm household to improve its livelihood situation and to cope with the dynamic context?

System comparison study System comparison study

Comparison of 60 organic and 60 conventional farms, randomly selected

Interviews and agronomic data monitoring (2 years)

Measurements and soil sample analysis

Analysed: cropping patterns, production costs, labour input, water use, yields, gross margins impact on soil, etc.

Main results (organic farms)Main results (organic farms)

Cropping patterns: more diverse crop rotation

Labour input: 0-10% higher

Production costs: 10-20% lower total costs, 40% lower input costs

Yields: no significant difference

Net profit: 30-40% higher in cotton, 10-20% higher in overall farm (including rotation crops)

Soil fertility: no differences in soil organic matter content and water retention capacity detected

Soil nutrients: less fields with nutrient deficiency of P, K and B

No significant difference in irrigation water quantities applied in cotton

Adoption analysis studyAdoption analysis study

Analyzed aspects:

Perceptions

Attitudes

Motivations

Decision making

Risk behaviour

Vulnerability

Gender aspects

Obstacles to conversion

Dropping out of organic farming

Methods:

Interviews on motivations and perceptions

Time-line analysis

Interviews on changes in the livelihood system

Controversial statement analysis

Group discussions based on video screening

Observation protocols

Research feedback

„Controversial statement analysis“„Controversial statement analysis“

Nandu-bhai, an organic farmer Topics Sheru-bhai, a conventional farmer

I want to keep the land fertile for my sons.

Future perspective

Anyway there is no future in farming.

I get a better price for my cotton. Motivation / premium

How long will they pay the premium?

In the future I will have a better income. Conversion I can’t afford to loose yields in the initial years.

With chemical farming you ultimately get more pests.

Risk of crop failure

I better spray my crops, to be on the safe side

Anyway it doesn’t pay off to use fertilizers!

Risk of bad monsoon

In a god monsoon you get high yields with using fertilizers.

I am less dependent on money lenders, because input costs are low.

Indebtedness / relation to

money lenders

You depend on money lenders because you can’t get advance payments from cotton traders anymore.

I need less time for spraying. Work load / gender

But the women of your house have more work to prepare compost.

Group discussions based on video screeningGroup discussions based on video screening

Interviews on changes in the livelihood systemInterviews on changes in the livelihood system

Individual Orientation

What do you want to achieve in the future?

What are your fears for the future?

Who inspired you to go for OF?

Family Orientation

What does your family think about the conversion?

What are your plans for your children?

How will you utilize the extra money you saved / earned through organic farming?

Collective Orientation

Did your image in the village change?

What would your ancestors think about you?

What do you expect from the government?

Inner Human Space

Did you change due to the conversion? How?

Have you made new friends?

Are there new things you want to try out?

Family Space

Any change of roles in the family?

Did health condition change?

Were there tensions in the family due to conversion?

Socio-economic Space

What changed in the village?

Do the farmers cooperate more?

What does the relation to bioRe mean to you?

Emotional Base

Did your relation to your farm (land) change?

How do you feel about the change to organic?

What metaphor / image would you use for OF?

Knowledge & Activity Base

What did you learn?

How did your work load change?

Any new activities?

Physical Base

What changed in the fields?

What new equipment did you acquire?

Any change in income?

Do you have more or less water then before? Why?

Obstacles to adopting organic farmingObstacles to adopting organic farming

Concerns and doubts All change requires efforts Low awareness on costs Doubts on feasibility and viability Dissens within the family Status concerns Short-term needs

Lack of information, know-how and skills

Never heard about organic farming Lack of know-how on farm ecology Complex standard requirements

Need to learn skills Management of

rotation crops

Economic hurdles Expecting drop in

yields and incomes Need to sustain during initial years Covering costs of conversion Fear of increased workload Limited availability of labour

TechnicalChallenges

Shortage of

dung and biomass Organic methods work slowly Control of problematic pests Farmers find record keeping for

certification difficult

Strategy development

Obstacles to adoptingorganic farming

Farmers dropping out from organic farmingFarmers dropping out from organic farming

Compliance with organic standards checked by internal and external control system

Farms excluded from the project due to the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or GMO

High ‘defaulting-rates’ in 2003 (40%) and in 2004 (30%)!

Mainly wealthier farmers defaulted opportunism!

Temptation of trying out GMO-cotton „being progressive“!

Insight that free-riding puts the entire group at risk! (losing the certification)

Importance of building emotional project ownership and group coherence, leading to mutual control

Conclusions from the research projectConclusions from the research project

Organic farming can substantially contribute to improving the livelihoods of smallholders.

• It can produce similar yields at lower production costs and involving less risk.

• It can generate higher incomes and helps strengthening the livelihood base.

• It allows more sustainable management of natural resources.

• It can contribute to re-inforce cooperation among farmers and strengthen the role of women.

Is organic farming a viable option for smallholders in developing countries?

Challenges aheadChallenges ahead

Diversification of incomes, soil fertility management and water management (climate change!) need further efforts.

To enable smallholders to adopt organic farming, concepts are needed to minimize and bridge the gap of income during the conversion period.

To avoid defaulting, it is important to build “emotional ownership“ for the project and mutual social control among farmers.

Influence of a dynamic context? GMO-cotton, increasing fuel and food prices, globalisation