Factors Affecting Collective Action among Vegetable Farmers for Market Access in South Gujarat

Cluster farming is Collective planning, decision making, and implementation of crop activities by a group of farmers organized in a cluster through a participatory approach, who agree to organize to accomplish common goals (reduce risks and maximize returns). Vine Crops cluster in Valsadand Navsari districts considered as an important agricultural crop clusters in South Gujarat. The present study was carried to study the marketing strategies employed within the cluster and to identify the underlying factors that enable producer groups to improve their market access. Vine vegetable farmers exhibited a positive evaluation of collective action initiatives and agreed about the benefits of improvement in their skills and market access. Farmers involved in group action were found to be more aware of the use of market information and involved in the adoption of grading and packaging as compared to other farmers. The major factors affecting farmer's participation were found to be experience, income, social participation, distance to nearest road, size of landholding, and irrigation levels.