Programme de bourses "Jeunes Chercheurs"

Organic Agriculture in Sustainable Rural Development - Sharing and Co-production of Knowledge in Ecological Rice Farming Systems

This PhD thesis in human geography contributes to the development of organic agriculture in countries of the South. More sustainable use of natural resources is not only depending on technical innovations, i.e. specific methods that enable soil fertility. It also depends on the processes and activities that enhance learning, sharing and adapting of those methods according to specific geographical, socio-economic and cultural contexts. These learning processes between key stakeholders were analysed on the basis of two case studies.

The field work was mainly done in two case studies areas in South Korea and Cambodia, and with additional research in Thailand and India. All of the investigated projects are committed to the development of organic farming as a form of sustainable rural development that takes into account poverty alleviation in poor farmers’ communities. The research focuses on the adaptation of sustainable rice farming methods and the related learning processes of both local communities and national organisations. Those organisations promote organic farming methods and also organize cooperative activities like joint marketing, savings groups, and joint learning activities for farmers and other stakeholders.

In both case studies, social interactions and rules are the main factors that influence the learning processes. Strong hierarchical structures have a strong influence in South Korea but also play a role in Cambodia. These structures tend to hinder a mutual sharing of knowledge and information because meetings are usually dominated by few speakers. This hinders a co-creation of new combinations of traditional and new techniques. Moreover, deeper insights in philosophical approaches regarding what is and what is not organic are not shared in a way that traditional and western philosophies are of equal importance. In Cambodia, but also in South Korea, financial resources that would enable mobility and communication among important stakeholders are restricted. In this regard, the studied organisations try to make the best to better that situation, but there resources are limited too.

For both the acquisition and analysis process of data, the research partners proved to be of great help. There additional information regarding local rules and custom were important in the questionnaire design, data collection, and analysis. The research partners also benefited regarding research methodology and regarding how to address interviewees and organisations that are vital for the research process.

  
A village representative and SRI (System of Rice Intensification) farmer teacher presents strengths and weaknesses of his village situation during a village representative meeting organised by CEDAC, a Cambodian NGO (Source: Dominik Rutz 2009)

 
Members of city consumer cooperatives release ducklings into an integrated rice and duck field in rural South Korea during the annual „Urban-Rural Co-living and Co-operation Festival” (Source: Dominik Rutz 2009)

Involved Institutions and Persons

Dominik Rutz
MSc in Geography
Johannisburgstr. 16
CH-8700 Küsnacht
Switzerland
Email: drutz@gmx.ch

Supervisor:
PD Dr. Stephan Rist
Coordinator Transversal Package of the
National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) North-South
Centre for Development and Environment (CDE)
Hallerstrasse 10
CH- 3012 Bern
Switzerland
Email: Stephan.Rist@cde.unibe.ch

Research Partner:
Mr. Sarun Hey BSc. (Research Partner)
Takeo District, Cambodia
E-mail: hey.sarun@gmail.com

Mr. Panha Pok BSc.
Takeo Province, Cambodia
pok.panha@yahoo.com

Research Partner Institution:
Graduate School / Royal University of Agriculture in Cambodia
GIDAR MASTER PROGRAM “Gestion Intégrée du Dévelopment Agricole et Rural”, meaning Integrated Management of Agricultural and Rural Development
Dr. Seng Mom, Dean of Graduate School
E-mail: mom_seng@hotmail.com