Guideline on Promotion of Community Participation in the Farmer Market

Abstract

This paper aims to present the social conditions, problems and obstacles in the implementation of the Farmer Market Project with community participatory principles in 77 Provinces. And to seek the ways to promote community participation in the implementation of the farmers market project. Researcher surveyed the data from market managers in the farmer market in 77 provinces and interviewed 16 market managers. Policy recommendation on farmer market project at practical level has been presented. The results are summarized as follows; (1) The social conditions that implied the success or failure of the farmers market project are: 1) cooperation from public and private sectors; 2) strong market presence and good management; 3) cooperation from farmers and the strong farmers group; 4) good quality products with fair price; 5) consumers focus on safe agricultural products; 6) good and thorough public relations; 7) market location is in a good location and physical structure is favorable. (2) The major problems and obstacles are location problems, product problems, and vendor issues problems. (3) Guidelines for promoting community participation in project implementation should start with an analysis of the social capital of each area. And recognizing the participation of at least 4 stakeholders; 1) farmers, farmers group, and farmer management committees; 2) government agencies; 3) private sectors; 4) consumers.