Economic Opportunity Mailing List Archive

["Fernando Eguren" <<address removed>>]

It is striking the almost complete absence of contributions coming from Latin 
America in this very interesting consultation. Let me contribute with a few 
comments on farmers' organizations in Peru.

1.      Farmers' organizations are not only justified on economic terms, but 
for political and social arguments as well (e.g., to have the capacity to 
influence or negotiate with national/regional governments and with other 
interest groups which are, in fact, organized). These social and 
political capacities, in turn, will very probably have positive economic 
effects on the farmer's pockets. In the real world economic, social, political 
and cultural dimensions are intermingled. Only for analytical purposes they 
should be separated. But once we are discussing policies, we have to 
intermingle them again.

2.      The discussion on the pros and cons of farmer organizations seems to be 
an entirely a case-by-case one, rather than seeking to draw broader lessons. 
Should it be?  I am not sure. In the Peruvian experience, small farmers' 
cooperatives have been successful when they sprung from the needs 
of farmers themselves. It was a solution tailored by the own farmers. It was a 
failure when cooperatives were an imposed top-down model, as happened with the 
more than 600 cooperatives created by the government, (during the 
implementation of land reform in 1970-1975) replacing the same number of 
expropriated 'haciendas' (many of which were well managed) which, after less 
than a decade, dissolved into family plots.  

3.      The success or failures of cooperatives (and of other economic 
organizations) can be strongly influenced by the political options of 
governments (e.g. the laws and norms issued, incentives or disincentives, 
etc.).  



Thanks for your attention.

Fernando Eguren

Centro Peruano de Estudios Sociales

CEPES

(at the International Land Coalition/IFAD, for the next few months)

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