Controls, Risks and Contradiction of Power Relations in Contract Farming

Abstract

This paper focuses on power relations between an agro-food industry company and farmers in the production of raw products to serve the agro-food industry. This study found that the agro-food company employs flexible labor management to control the growers. Moreover, the company utilizes the cultural logics by appointing “brokers” who are relatives or fellow villagers of the farmers to act on behalf of the company to control the farmers. The company controls the quality of potatoes in similar way as industrial goods with the aim to discipline farmers in the production process.