Breaking Barriers: Engaging Women Farmers in Implementing Participatory Guarantee Systems for Sustainable Crop Production

Abstract

Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) are community-based certification schemes guaranteeing sustainable and high-quality crop production. These systems can be particularly beneficial for smallholder farmers, including women who need more resources to obtain expensive third-party certifications such as organic or fair-trade. However, research on the implementation of PGS for women smallholder farmers is scarce. This study examines the implementation of Participatory Guarantee Systems in small-scale agriculture conducted by women farmers. The study was conducted using qualitative methods, which included interviews with 16 participants. The women farmer communities in Claket Village, Mojokerto Regency, Indonesia, were used as a case study. The study found that implementing PGS requires the assistance of NGOs to identify stakeholders such as farming communities, consumers, and other interested parties in promoting organic farming. Secondly, the community establishes a set of guidelines and procedures for crop production to facilitate the certification process. Thirdly, regular inspections and evaluations are necessary to ensure the crops meet the established criteria. The critical hurdle to implementing PGS in Indonesia is the limited capacity of small-scale farmers, especially women, to document their activities for certification. Thus, intensive training and capacity building are needed to enhance their production techniques and documentation abilities to meet the established criteria. Finally, implementing PGS is a collective action that is crucial in building trust among stakeholders and ensuring that the certification process is credible and transparent.