Collective action of small farmers: A case study of Ruoheng farmer watermelon cooperative in China

Abstract

Watermelon production investments, incomes and the access to markets between members of a cooperative and individual small farmers are compared. The results of the case study regarding members of a watermelon cooperative and five individual small farmers in Zhejiang province in China indicate that members of the cooperative are prone to produce food of higher quality, have obvious advantage in accessing modern food supply chains over individual small farmers, and subsequently gain a significantly higher return or income than individual small farmers.farmer cooperative, benefit, income, Consumer/Household Economics,