ABSTRACT

In Chapter 6, it was argued that the FCN is one of the important factors contributing to HIC in marginal areas. The innovative function of the FCN, however, needs to be further explained: why are some people able to enjoy the FCN for livelihood growth and security while others are not? How can the FCN be developed to meet household innovative objectives or ‘community project’ targets? Corresponding with various village environment and technology types, what kinds of collaborative mechanisms or roles amongst participants can be recognised? What evolutionary process and development phases can be recognised regarding farmer innovative collaboration? Bearing in mind that the FCN is a form of social capital, the above issues can be encompassed in one question: how can social capital be accumulated or created for the purposes of farmer innovation and self-organisation?