Agricultural Contracting Services and the Organizing of Small-scale Household Producers:A Comparison of Different Modes
This paper discusses how small-scale household producers are organized and who bear the or-ganization costs through the comparison of different types of agricultural contracting services,which are ei-ther supported by the government,provided by market-oriented organizations or supplied by rural collec-tive economic organizations.The agricultural contracting services that are supported by the government may attract small-scale household producers to act in concert and buy the same services,but this organiza-tion is temporary.The market-oriented organizations may facilitate small-scale household producers to be matched with large-scale producers in purchasing services,or replace small-scale household producers with large-scale producers through land transfer.In these practices,small-scale household producers are passive participants,and are not actually organized.Rural collective economic organizations may rebuild the balance of rights and obligations between themselves and small-scale household producers,and cover-ing the costs of organizing small producers by charging for the services.The re-balancing of rights and ob-ligations between rural collective economic organizations and small producers could build dynamic connec-tions between them,which makes it possible for the former to organize and mobilize small producers.