Re-scaling and re-contextualizing agriculture-industry synergies for rural development: the case of an urbanizing rurality in the Philippines

Abstract

Macro-level studies remain insufficient in explaining localized failures of agriculture-industry synergies (AIS). Learning from long-term ethnographic and observational fieldwork, as well as semi-structured inquiries with agrarian capitalists and farmers in an urbanizing rurality outside Metro Manila, we re-contextualize and re-scale AIS failures. Weak synergies are symptomatic of (i) extractive institutions and capital accumulation between agrarian capitalists and peasants, and between elites and the state and (ii) major institutional failures. These dynamics have simultaneously furthered local de-industrialization and weakened agrarianization, failing to create linkages. The interplay between local institutions and behaviours of capitalists and peasant classes must inform future AIS development.