Methodology for indicators of social development, supplementary report 3 : the small farmer agricultural sector

A MODEL OF THE SMALL FARM SYSTEM IS DEVELOPED HERE BY FOCUSING ON SOCIOECONOMIC AND OTHER IMPORTANT VARIABLES THAT AFFECT THE DECISION MAKING OF SMALL FARMERS. ON THE BASIS OF THIS MODEL, A NUMBER OF INDICATORS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES TO USE TO MONITOR SOCIAL CHANGE IN THE SMALL FARM SECTOR. THERE IS ALSO A DISCUSSION OF WAYS INDICATOR DATA MAY BE TABULATED. THE AUTHORS EMPHASIZE NINE SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF SMALL FARM HOLDING AS CONCEPTUALIZED IN TERMS OF A SIMPLE SMALL FARM SYSTEM MODEL. THESE DIMENSIONS ARE THE NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF FARM FAMILY"S DIET, INCOME AND CASH FLOW RECEIVED BY FARM FAMILY, UTILIZATION EFFICIENCY OF COMMODITY DISPOSITION RESOURCES, PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY PER UNIT OF OPERATION, PRODUCTIVE POTENTIAL OF UNIT OF OPERATION, LEVEL OF EMPLOYMENT IN AGRICULTURE, UTILIZATION EFFICIENCY OF PRODUCTION INPUT RESOURCES, UTILIZATION OF AGRI-SUPPORT SYSTEM SERVICES, AND EMPLOYMENT IN NON-AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES. POSITIVE CHANGE ALONG ONE OR MORE OF THESE DIMENSIONS WOULD CONSTITUTE, FROM THE STANDPOINT OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING, BENEFICIAL CHANGE AT THE LEVEL OF THE SMALL FARM HOLDING.