دانلود رایگان ترجمه مقاله کشت و صنعت برای توسعه کشاورزان روستایی و کم مایه (نشریه الزویر 1999)

کشت و صنعت برای توسعه روستایی و کشاورزان کم سرمایه: مسائل و درس هایی از هند

Agroindustry for Rural and Small Farmer Development: Issues and Lessons from India

Abstract

This article examines the priority given to agroindustries in India in the context of their role in rural and small farmer development. The features and constraints of agroindustry are examined to assess their real and potential contribution and challenges faced. Institutional and organizational models that have been tried or proposed in India are evaluated from the point of view of performance and contribution to rural and small farmer development. The article then draws policy and managerial implications.

1 Introduction

Agroindustry has historically been given high priority in Indian policy and development programs. The focus on agroindustry as an agent of rural develop ment and employment creation was present in Mahatma Gandhi’s emphasis on village-based agroindustry during India’s independence movement, and is today a central part of the national development plan (see India Planning Commission, 1996). There is optimism concerning its continuing development: the FAIDA report of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Mckinsey and Company (1997) both show that there is great potential for development of food processing and other agroindustry.

However, India’s agroindustry development is today plagued by tough challenges, including costly raw material, supply chain inefficiencies, and market demand constraints (see Srivastava and Patel, 1994; Goyal, 1994; CII–Mckinsey, 1997). There are concerns about whether multinational firms contracting small farmers will help or hurt small farmers and local small agroindustrial firms; this debate is indeed generalized in developing countries (Glover and Kusterer, 1990). There are concerns about whether the cooperative movement can effectively promote agroindustrial development for small firms.

The private sector as well as government are at a cross-roads in the choice of the best models for agroindustrial development—what kind of institutional and organizational arrangements/models are appropriate for overcoming current constraints, and maximizing their contribution to rural and small farmer development? This article focuses on that question, and proceeds as follows. First, we sketch the history of policy and program approaches to agroindustry development in India. Second, we describe the current structure and characteristics of agroindustry in India, and summarize the literature’s analysis of its constraints. Finally, we discuss the major models for organizing Indian agroindustry that have been experimented with or proposed recently in India. We draw lessons from the experiences of those models.