Social Indicators of Sustainability
Research shows that people who are stressed, isolated and unhappy, and dysfunctional households and disintegrating communities find it difficult to manage their affairs (O’Brien, Gilling). These negative states can be turned around with a small but catalytic intervention. MAF’s need to understand the social constraints to the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices has directed attention to research into, and facilitation for, the management of social issues in farming and rural communities.
Internationally this work is being carried out by, among other things, measuring social well-being. This is a measure of people’s involvement in society, their self-esteem, sense of identity and belonging, their access to the skills, information and resources needed to live, work and play. MAF has adopted this approach under the assumption that behavioural change (such as a swing to sustainable agricultural practices) is something which cannot be imposed. It comes from individuals adopting it because it is seen to be appropriate, and to their advantage.
MAF’s role has been to facilitate the process of behavioural change by encouraging individuals to better understand themselves and what motivates them. The work is based on the presumption that an individual’s understanding of his or her behaviour and motivation is a necessary precursor to understanding the behaviour of others. Change can rarely be achieved in isolation. For example, having an understanding of family relationships is vitally important in a family business. Even more important is putting that understanding into practice.
By understanding the functioning of their families and the communities in which they live - the power relationships, the goals and aspirations, the education levels and access to information, the social and cultural norms controlling behaviour, and the political persuasions and past events which have impacted on people’s thinking - members of farm households and of ruralcommunities are better placed to overcome barriers and seize opportunities for enhancing their lives.
Example: The Clutha Valley Social Indicators Project
The Clutha Valley community, located in South Otago, has been monitoring its state of social well-being in partnership with MAF. The community has undertaken an assessment of who and what it consists of (i.e. identified its social and geographic boundaries), and has identified its most important physical, historical, social and economic features. It has studied the key issues it faces and the changes which have occurred in the community since the eighties.
Local residents say "the economic restructuring by Government, whether necessary, or good or bad for New Zealand as a whole, certainly changed life for us. Many of us in rural New Zealand believe the government did not recognise the extent of social upheaval and change this restructuring brought about." With MAF’s help a survey was undertaken to monitor the impact of some of these changes, and provide the community with some direction for the future.
The survey identified the community’s current social well-being compared to (i) ten years ago (ii) where the community would like to be in five years time (iii) what the community thinks would be complete satisfaction. The community also assessed what further actions it could take to manage its social development, by summarising the key concerns of the community, and how the community might manage these concerns. The outcome of the work has been the empowering of this farming community to: "take a long hard look at ourselves (a valuable exercise) and we are determined to make sure that positive action is taken to benefit the community".
MAF was called in to assist in the work because we are the government agency which farming communities tend to turn to first, and significantly, MAF is seen to be pro-active in working on social policy issues, and on linking the social with the economic and environmental.
Contact for Enquiries
Rural Affairs Coordinator
Sector Performance Policy
MAF Policy
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0675
Fax: +64 4 4 894 0745
Contact this person
