Evolving and Strengthening the Cooperative Approach for Agroforestry Farmers in Bangladesh: Lessons Learned from the Shimogo Cooperative in Japan
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Methods and Materials
2.1. Conceptual and Theoretical Frameworks
2.2. Madhupur Agroforestry Case of Bangladesh
2.3. Oita Cooperative Case of Japan
2.4. Data Collection and Analysis
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Problem Analysis of Agroforestry in Bangladesh
3.2. Intermediaries Involved in the Agroforestry Product Supply Chain in Bangladesh
3.2.1. Phoria
3.2.2. Beparies
3.2.3. Paiker/Arathdar
3.2.4. Retailer
3.2.5. Buyer/Auctioneer
3.2.6. Local Firewood Trader
3.3. Effects of Intermediaries on Farmer Products
3.4. Way Out of Issues
3.5. Agriculture Cooperatives in Japan
3.5.1. Institutions and Organization of the Shimogo Cooperative
3.5.2. Marketing and Other Services of the Shimogo Coop
3.5.3. Welfare of Shimogo Coop
3.5.4. Challenges of the Shimogo Coop
3.6. Lessons to Be Learned
4. Conclusions
Acknowledgments
Author Contributions
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Rank Order | Problems | Issues in Brief | Freq. (% of Farmer) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Involvement of many intermediaries | Different middlemen involved in marketing of agroforestry products and the supply chain | 117 (98) |
2 | Bureaucratic and official complexity | Complexity and unexpected delays created by the Forest Department staff to initiate Agroforestry programs | 95 (79) |
3 | Lack of alternative market facilities | No other suitable market in the local area | 92 (77) |
4 | Lack of easy credit or loan facilities | Government and Non-government organizations do not provide interest-free or low-interest loans | 76 (63) |
5 | Poor road communication | Often transporting of AF products to the market faced muddy and poor road infrastructure | 74 (62) |
6 | Lack of healthy seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides | Unavailability of improved input materials for the local farmers | 69 (58) |
7 | Local leader/elite interference | Getting undue benefit from the agroforestry programs | 52 (43) |
8 | Lack of information and research | No research and information facilities for the local farmers | 36 (30) |
Produces | Unit | Producer Price (Taka), P | Retail Price (Taka), R | Marketing Margin = (R − P)/R × 100 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pineapple | 1 piece | 15 | 40 | 62.5% |
Ginger | 1 kg | 70 | 125 | 44.0% |
Turmeric | 1 kg | 30 | 45 | 33.3% |
Firewood (Acacia spp.) | 1 mon (40 kg) | 120 | 190 | 36.8% |
Firewood (Other spp.) | 1 mon (40 kg) | 100 | 175 | 42.9% |
Types of Meeting | Time | Actors Involved | Major Issues |
---|---|---|---|
Own farmer group meeting | Once a month, as per need | Planning commission, farmer group | Evaluate production, costs, and other problems |
All farmers, group meeting | At least once in a three-month period, as per need | All farmers, planning commission | Production costs in particular sessions, problems, planning |
Farmer with coop staff meeting | Three times a year, as per need | Farmer and particular staff | Fix product-selling prices, evaluate consumer feedback, farmer problems, etc. |
Board meeting | Once a month | Board members | Discuss different strategies related to production, selling, and overall issues |
Staff meeting | Once a month, as per need | All staff | Evaluate each group’s progress, farmer problems, future planning, and other issues |
General meeting | Once a year | All farmers and coop staff | Evaluation, next year budget, future plans, and other broad decisions |
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Islam, K.K.; Fujiwara, T.; Sato, N.; Hyakumura, K. Evolving and Strengthening the Cooperative Approach for Agroforestry Farmers in Bangladesh: Lessons Learned from the Shimogo Cooperative in Japan. Sustainability 2018, 10, 617. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10030617
Islam KK, Fujiwara T, Sato N, Hyakumura K. Evolving and Strengthening the Cooperative Approach for Agroforestry Farmers in Bangladesh: Lessons Learned from the Shimogo Cooperative in Japan. Sustainability. 2018; 10(3):617. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10030617
Chicago/Turabian StyleIslam, Kazi Kamrul, Takahiro Fujiwara, Noriko Sato, and Kimihiko Hyakumura. 2018. "Evolving and Strengthening the Cooperative Approach for Agroforestry Farmers in Bangladesh: Lessons Learned from the Shimogo Cooperative in Japan" Sustainability 10, no. 3: 617. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10030617
APA StyleIslam, K. K., Fujiwara, T., Sato, N., & Hyakumura, K. (2018). Evolving and Strengthening the Cooperative Approach for Agroforestry Farmers in Bangladesh: Lessons Learned from the Shimogo Cooperative in Japan. Sustainability, 10(3), 617. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10030617