“Smallholders” Sociological Analysis: A Case study of sugarcane farmers in Kalasin Province

Abstract

This paper discusses “smallholders” from a sociological perspective. Using qualitative research techniques, field data was gathered from all householders of sugarcane farmers in the study site in Kalasin Province. These farmers produced jaggery, a type of processed sugar. The paper’s first main argument is that the size of worked land is not an appropriate criterion for identifying smallholders. This is because smallholders have various production activities on their land, which is on the average larger than 2 hectares (12 rai and 2 gnan). This is not in accordance with the World Bank’s definition of smallholders as those producing agricultural products and foods on land smaller than 2 hectares. Using land size to identify smallholders is not consistent with the current social contexts of the agricultural sector, which has entered a full-blown market economy, as can be seen in that jaggery makers in this study use more than 12 hectares to diversify their production activities. The second argument is that jaggery makers are smallholders with knowledge, skills, meticulousness and craftsmanship. These qualities reflect a definition of smallholder by Peluso (2017) who states that smallholders’ production activities, cover a range of activities beyond cultivation and cattle rearing. They include product from artisanal skills and local handicraft. The third argument is that jaggery makers do not produce for subsistent living but for the market. They rely on intensive household labor for the production process and hire labor only for mass production and unlimited supply to the market. The last argument is jaggery makers share certain characteristics with entrepreneurs. That it, they price by themselves. They also function as a consumption unit and have a close social and culturalties among family members and members of the community.