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Creating Institutions for Sustainable Development of Fair Trade Producer Organization: The Case of PDS in Kerala, India

  • Journal of Regional Studies and Development
  • Abbr : JRSD
  • 2023, 32(3), pp.97-138
  • DOI : 10.22739/ipaid.2023.32.3.97
  • Publisher : Institute for Poverty Alleviation and International Development: IPAID
  • Research Area : Social Science > Area Studies > Regional Studies in general > Comparative / Statistical Regional Studies
  • Received : October 19, 2023
  • Accepted : December 28, 2023
  • Published : December 30, 2023

Kim, Sunhwa 1 이미옥 2

1한남대학교
2한양대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This study analyzes the case of the PDS organization in Kerala, India, which practices Fair Trade organic agriculture and creates institutions for sustainable development. We conducted 18 days of fieldwork to investigate how the PDS has created sustainable development with hill farmers and women. We analyzed this from an institutional work perspective and found that the PDS engaged in four institutional works: organizing, imitation, education, and networking. Organizing had two aspects. The first was supporting local people to organize themselves, such as self-help groups and farmer enterprises. The second was to organize various functions within the PDS to support local people. In order to increase farmers’ incomes by expanding exports, they carried out imitation work to adopt international certification standards such as Fair Trade and organic. It has practiced education to strengthen the capacity of local people through various education and training programs. Finally, they have formed various domestic and international networks to bring in resources. The theoretical implications of this study are as follows. Firstly, it explores the role of Fair Trade for sustainable development by exploring how Fair Trade is being used by producer organizations in developing countries. Secondly, it contributes to research that explores the process of how the the PDS has worked as intermediary support organizations in developing countries to achieve sustainable development with local people. In practical terms, the study aims to reveal how the PDS has been able to achieve local development, rather than simplifying it to the leadership role of founders or managers, but as a process of intentional efforts by various actors. We aimed to reveal that sustainable development is achieved in the daily and complex process of performing institutional works.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.