Social capital and cattle marketing chains in Bali and Lombok, Indonesia

Summary

The ability of agencies or farmer groups to deliver extension, financial and other forms of support to smallholder cattle farmers in eastern Indonesia is influenced by the strength of the networks and the trust inherent in the particular group (its ‘social capital’). This study provides evidence of the importance of social capital in the process of alleviating poverty through rural development initiatives, particularly with respect to Indonesian smallholders accessing cattle market opportunities.