Abstract

Collective action through farmers’ groups is increasingly being recognized as a positive force for rural development in Bhutan. The present study describes an assessment of the performance of smallholder dairy farmers’ groups (N=7) in the west and east central regions of Bhutan. The data were collected from 176 respondents through a structured questionnaire survey supplemented by open participatory group discussions. Six functional tasks associated with the dairy groups’ performance were identified and evaluated; i) production support ii) marketing support iii) processing efficiency iv) members’ representation v) records and accounting and vi) group management, using a Likert-type rating scale. The limited group capacity, poor sense of ownership and inactive participation by the members, heavy dependence on government support, dispersed location and complacent members’ attitude were found affecting performance of dairy groups.

Key words: Collective action, functional tasks, performance and members’ perceptions.