Social Capital, Resources Access and Vertical Coordination of Collective Actions in Value Chains: A Comparative Analysis Between Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana
研究了科特迪瓦和加纳水稻价值链中农民组织的社会资本如何影响资源获取和市场协调，发现网络结构（集中或分散）决定了服务获取模式和市场策略，对农业政策设计有参考价值。
Social capital plays a crucial role in collective action, yet its impact on farmers’ access to resources, trust-based networks, and market coordination remains underexplored. This study examines how social capital shapes resource access and marketing strategies in farmer organizations, focusing on seven cases from the rice value chains in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. Using network analysis and Quadratic Assignment Procedure (QAP) correlation, the research identifies different patterns of service access based on trust and proximity. The findings reveal that resource access in farmer groups depends on the structure of their networks—whether centralized or decentralized—alongside external support and policy conditions. In Ghana, social ties have a weaker influence on resource access compared to Côte d’Ivoire. Moreover, organizations with decentralized networks tend to work more with wholesalers, while those with centralized networks sell directly to consumers. These insights contribute to the broader discussion on how farmer networks influence market participation and value chain upgrading in developing countries. Policy recommendations emphasize the need for agricultural development programs to consider leadership dynamics, trust, and organizational governance structures when designing interventions for farmer organizations, cooperatives, and Water Users Associations.