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Leadership and Collective Action in Promoting Eco-Friendly Farming: A Case Study of Wufeng District, Taichung City, Taiwan

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  • Yin-An Chen

    (Department of Ethnology, National Chengchi University, Taipei City 116011, Taiwan)

  • Ai-Ching Yen

    (Department of Land Economics, National Chengchi University, Taipei City 116011, Taiwan)

Abstract

Eco-friendly farming, which minimizes chemical inputs, is critical for environmental sustainability but often exceeds the capacity of individual farmers, requiring collective action. This study examines how leadership facilitates collective adoption of eco-friendly practices in rural contexts, focusing on the Wufeng District Farmers’ Association in central Taiwan. Based on field observations and semi-structured interviews, the research identifies three key drivers: leaders’ shared vision and incentive mechanisms, technical support from the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, and effective mobilization by production and marketing group leaders. Leaders functioned as managers and intermediaries, fostering cooperation, managing uncertainty, and encouraging innovation. Consequently, eco-friendly farmland expanded, and value-added products, such as rice-based wine, were developed. The findings highlight that adaptive and entrepreneurial leadership, combining transformational inspiration with transactional accountability, is essential to sustaining collective action and advancing long-term rural sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Yin-An Chen & Ai-Ching Yen, 2025. "Leadership and Collective Action in Promoting Eco-Friendly Farming: A Case Study of Wufeng District, Taichung City, Taiwan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-30, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:24:p:11068-:d:1814858
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