To work alone or with peers: Exploring smallholder coffee farmers’ perceptions influencing collective actions

Abstract

This study explores how smallholder coffee farmers’ perceptions may influence their engagement in peer mobilization and collective action. Forty smallholder coffee farmers were interviewed in the Central Highlands region of Peru using a closed-ended instrument. Data were collected and analyzed on farmers’ attitudes and aspirations around working with peers, autonomy, and external support as well as knowledge, skills, and behaviors pertinent to collective actions. Based on the findings, it is recommended that practitioners and farmer group leaders focus training efforts on building smallholders’ knowledge and skills in mobilization, encourage peer association/collective action as a source of external support, and target knowledgeable, skilled and confident farmers to lead collective actions.

Keywords

• association
• coffee
• extension
• farmer-to-farmer
• smallholder