Inclusive rice seed business: Performance and sustainability

Abstract

A collective action approach to rice seed production is an inclusive method involving the community's active participation at all stages of its execution. This allinclusive strategy, however, has yet to be thoroughly investigated and published. This study explored how and to what degree an inclusive rice seed business of Gapoktan, based on a collective action approach, might be deployed in a sustainable rice seed company run by community groups. The research comprised the following stages: (1) establishment of a seed production business institution, (2) production of rice seeds, and (3) self-assessment of the performance of the seed production business institution. Institutional data were acquired through a questionnaire that references the European Foundation for QualityManagement's (EFQM) methodology. Three dimensions used were direction (purpose, vision, and strategy; organizational culture and leadership); execution (engaging stakeholders; coasting sustainable value; driving performance transformation); and result (stakeholder perceptions; strategic and operational performance). The study suggests essential findings: The organizational structure of rice seed producers formed is complete regarding its operational functions. The rice seeds produced by Gapoktan have met both the volume and quality standards. From a financial perspective, this rice seed production unit is feasible for further development. However, their social orientation is still relatively high and needs to be more profit-oriented. Uniquely, not all members buy and use Gapoktan seeds. As a result, additional efforts are necessary to provide exceptional service to Gapoktan members.