Abstract
As part of its agricultural development strategy, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago plans to promote the development of Producer Organizations. Historically, the sustainability of farmers’ groups in Trinidad has been poor, with several unsuccessful interventions. This study seeks to do a preliminary exploration of some of the issues which could impact group sustainability, as perceived by the two main stakeholders - farmers and extension services staff. Purposive sampling was done to carefully select participants from pools of experienced farmers and extension officers. A single separate focus group session was conducted with samples from each of the two populations. The information obtained was subjected to thematic analysis to identify the key issues which resonated with both groups. The results of that study are reported in this paper, with important verbatim statements quoted in order to support findings. The major issues on which both stakeholders agreed were related to (i) the preconditions for group survival or failure and (ii) leadership. Recommendations include: The review and modernization of the existing constitution which governs groups, governance training for leaders and potential leaders, and the introduction of decision making procedures in which members can participate. Key words: Extension officers, focus groups, farmers’ group development, sustainability, thematic analysis.
Highlights
According to Barham and Chitemi (2009), farmers’groups are social structures and successful collective action initiatives are influenced by group asset configurations, composition, and characteristics.The interest in the creation of farmers’ groups is not new
Groups are social structures and successful collective action initiatives are influenced by group asset configurations, composition, and characteristics
The participants were carefully selected from a pool of extension officers pursuing further studies at the Eastern Caribbean Institute of Agriculture and Forestry (ECIAF) in Trinidad
Summary
According to Barham and Chitemi (2009), farmers’groups are social structures and successful collective action initiatives are influenced by group asset configurations, composition, and characteristics.The interest in the creation of farmers’ groups is not new. According to Barham and Chitemi (2009), farmers’. Groups are social structures and successful collective action initiatives are influenced by group asset configurations, composition, and characteristics. The interest in the creation of farmers’ groups is not new. Many farmers’ groups have been formed in Trinidad and the Caribbean. Most exist only for a short time, going out of existence for a host of reasons which have not been fully investigated. This situation is not unique to Trinidad, but a reflection of what exists in the wider Caribbean. In a move to ensure the sustainability of farmers’ groups, the Caribbean Farmers
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