Characterizing farm-level social relations’ influence on sustainable food production

Abstract

The cultural, economic, and nutritional importance of rice led many countries to investigate how domestic rice production can meet current and future demands. In rice production, the role of social capital and personal networks of producers compared to biophysical and economic assets, are less well understood even though case study analyses routinely indicate that they play an important role in production efficiency and sustainability. Using data from rice farmers in the Philippines, we sought to understand the role of social capital on farm productivity, technical efficiency, and the adoption of sustainable practices. Through social network analysis and structural equation modeling, we show the accumulation of social capital resources exhibits a positive impact on farm technical efficiency and the adoption of technology for water conservation. The results offer a different frame of reference for policymakers developing new approaches for sustainable rice production in terms of how dynamics between farmers may ultimately attain national and global sustainability goals.