What is the definition of a small farmer “group association”?
While SFGAs can be informal or formal, traditional or modern, involve small or large groups and pursue a variety of economic as well as non-economic ends, for the purpose of this conference we will define them as: an informal, voluntary and self-governing association of small farmer groups formed at local level for the purpose of economic cooperation for the benefit of all its affiliated individual members. Typically, such SFGAs average 5 to 10 groups, serving 25 to 150 individual members. The geographic coverage of such an association may extend to a village or a cluster of neighbouring villages. It should be stressed that the term “group association” as defined here refers to an informal association of farmer groups, and excludes other more formal associations, such as cooperative unions, agricultural labour unions or other group associations which have a recognised legal personality and are often subject to specific legislation.
