5603

Social	Capital	Formation	through	Farm	Women	Groups	in	Vegetable	
Production	in	Kollam	District	of	Kerala

 Revathy Chandran1 and G.S. Sreedaya2

ABSTRACT

 Social capital refers to the trust, mutual understanding and shared values which 
facilitate the collective action and social co-ordination. It can create a service which can 
enhance the output obtainable from other inputs. Trust, co-operation, networks and norms 
are the important aspects of social capital. Farmer producer organization is the most 
appropriate institutional form around which to mobilize farmers and build their capacity to 
collectively leverage their production and marketing strength. Women groups have emerged 
as a major source of inspiration for women and collective action of women through their 
groups strengthened women in all spheres of life. This study was conducted among 120 
women respondents in six selected panchayats of Kollam district in Kerala with the he 
main objective of   assessing the  social capital formation through farm women groups. 
Social Capital was measured using Social Capital Assessment Tool (SOCAT) developed 
by World Bank. The results showed that there 82% of the respondents had   medium 
level of social capital formation and   the continuous efforts of various governmental and 
non-governmental agencies had  tremendously  helped in shifting this neutral attitude of 
people.

Keywords : Social capital, social networks, trust, women groups.

INTRODUCTION

 Social capital refers to the trust, 
mutual understanding and shared values 
which facilitate the collective action 
and social co-ordination. Social capital 
ponders to the characteristics of a society 
that stimulates co-operation among the 
individuals. It can create a service which 
can enhance the output obtainable from 
other inputs. ‘Networks’, ‘norms’ and 
‘trust’ can be considered as the three 
important attributes of Social capital. 

1-Senior PG scholar and 2- Assistant  Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, 
Kerala Agricultural University, Vellayani-695522, Thiruvananthapuram,Kerala.

Received : 3-6-2016; Accepted : 28-6-2016

Unlike human and physical capital, 
social capital lies as a latent (embedded) 
resource waiting to be mobilised and 
utilised, growing and developing with 
use. (Morris et al.,2006) .

     Women groups is the new strategy 
which enables  women to achieve their 
needs through the  overall output of 
the group.  This expected collective 
or economic benefits derived from the 
preferential treatment and cooperation 
between individuals and groups is known 

Journal of Extension Education
Vol. 28  No. 1,  2016



5604

as the social capital. Social capital is 
enhanced through people employing both 
functioning and capabilities in Self help 
groups within a framework of trust and 
inclusion, resulting in closer bonding 
and reciprocal arrangements that bring 
benefits to all members (Ibrahim ,2006). 
Kerala is a consumer state as far as 
vegetables are concerned. Major share of 
the fresh vegetable supply for the state 
comes from neighbouring states.   Women 
groups have emerged as a major source 
of inspiration for women. Groups provide 
a platform for women through which 
they can speak for their needs and work 
for their needs. With this background, 
the present study aims at measuring the 
scale of social capital formation through 
farm women groups and to study the 
involvement of farm women in  panning 
production and marketing aspects of   
vegetables.

METHODOLOGY

 The scale of Social Capital 
was measured using Social Capital 
Assessment Tool (SOCAT) developed by 
(World Bank, 2010). The   SOCAT is a 
multifaceted instrument designed to 
collect social capital data at the house 
hold, community and organisational 
levels. It includes both qualitative and 
quantitative measurement techniques. 
Qualitative techniques include Focus 
Group Discussion (FGD), Community 
Mapping and Participatory Rural 
Appraisal (PRA). The quantitative 
techniques involved the use of pre-tested 

and structured interview schedules. 

SOCAT seeks to operationalize emerging 
theories regarding the dimensions 
of social capital, creating validated 
indicators that can measure the levels 
of social capital and its relationship with 
other development indicators in the area 
of poverty alleviation. Six panchayats 
were identified from Kollam district based 
on the number of maximum women 
groups and one group was selected by 
random sampling. Fifteen members were 
randomly selected from each group along 
with 30 extension  facilitators of  Kollam 
district  which constitute a total of 120 
respondents.  

FINGINGS AND DISCUSSION 

Social	capital	measured	using	SOCAT

• Due to exposure to the group meetings 
respondents was well aware of their 
resources, institutions and marketing 
channels both within and outside the 
Panchayat.

• All the respondents were aware of 
the support services received from   
VFPCK, KUDUMBASHREE, KRISHI 
BHAVAN  and they frequently visit 
these organizations.

• Membership in the group 
enhanced individual soft skills like 
communication skill, leadership, 
team building, conflict management 
etc of the respondents. 

• Group meetings enhanced   
connection, co-ordination and co-

Journal of Extension Education



5605

Social Capital Formation through Farm Women Groups in Vegetable Production in Kollam District

operation among individuals.

• Also, exposure to the trainings and  
acquaintance with staff of various 
organizations helped the respondents 
to improve  their  evaluation ability.  

• Members also exhibited  improved 
risk  taking ability because of the 
feeling of ‘togetherness’.

• Enhanced trust, bonding and 
reciprocal arrangements among group 
members created more socialization 
even between the family members of 
the respondents.

Distribution of Respondents Based 
on	 the	 Scale	 of	 Social	 Capital	
Formation.

 It was found that majority of 
respondents belongs to the medium 
category in their social capital formation. 
i.e. 82 per cent    of the respondents belong 
to the medium category whereas only 10 
per cent  belongs to the high category. 
Eight per cent  of the respondents fall 
under the low social capital formation 
groups. Majority of the people in 
the society have a neutral attitude 
towards co-operation, helping others 
and volunteership. It is obvious that  
continuous efforts of State department 
of agriculture, VFPCK, Kudumbasree 
Mission and other NGOs,  have created 
a wave in farming community especially 
vegetable scenario. A lot of groups were 
promoted by these organization many of 
them are women group and  this might be 

the reason as majority of the respondents 
fall under medium category and for  a 
considerable reduction of respondents  
who fall in the low category. (Fig.1)

                                                                                                      
Scale	of	Social	Capital	Formation

   The maximum social capital was 
observed in the Karavaloor panchayat  
with 71%, followed by Pavithreshwaram 
and the minimum social capital was 
obtained in Pooyapally panchayat 
securing 48%.

 From the Participating Rural  
Appraisal conducted and discussions 
with the women groups ,it was evident that 
there was good social capital formation 
among the members of the group under 
study. Karavaloor panchayat where 
the  maximum social capital formation 
was achieved have very active women 
members who are looking forward for 
more opportunities. The activities of 
kudumbasree over the last few years 
might  have increased the level of trust 
and solidarity among the group members 

( n=90)

Fig 1. Distribution of Respondents based on 
the Scale of Social Capital Formation.



5606

in Karavaloor panchayath. This might 
be the reason for high social capital in 
Karavaloor PanchayatKudumbashree, 
ATMA and VFPCK have enabled women 
to organize into groups and thereby 
increase their social capital formation 
through interaction, entrepreneurship 
and creative activities as well.

CONCLUSION 
 This study is significant as it 
addresses the soccial capital formation 
through farm women groups. The present 
study revealed that majority of the farm 
women had medium level of social capital 
formation (82%).  It was found that  the 
maximum social capital formation was 

observed in Karavaloor panchayat with 
71% social capital formation followed 
by Pavithreshwaram with 68% social 
capital formation. The study revealed 
that more support from the government 
and extension facilitators is needed for 
developing a high level of social capital 
formation.

REFERENCES 

Ibrahim, S. (2006), From Individual to 
Collective Capabilities: The Capability 
Approach as a Conceptual frame 
work  for self help. Journal of Human 
Development. 7(3), 397-416. 

Morris, S., Woodworth, W. & Hiatt, 
S. (2006). The value of networks in 
enterprise development: Case studies 
in Eastern Europe and Southeast 
Asia.  Journal of Developmental 
Entrepreneurship. 11(4), 345-356.

Sanyal, P. (2009). From credit to collective 
action: The role of microfinance in 
promoting  Women’s  social capital 
and normative influence.  American 
Sociological Review. 74: 529-550.

World Bank. (2009). World Development 
Report 2007/2008.  World Bank, 
Washington.

Fig 2. Distribution of Respondents based on 
the Scale of Social Capital Formation.

Journal of Extension Education