Search

Cooperatives have long been recognized as a collaborative effort by a group of individuals to address their social and economic needs. In South Africa, cooperatives have been adopted to address the triple challenge of poverty, inequality, and unemployment. Drawing on 15 face-to-face interviews with members of agricultural cooperatives in a township in South Africa, this study interrogates the extent to which agricultural cooperative can enhance local economic development and sustain livelihoods. Agricultural cooperatives have been widely supported and promoted as a vehicle for smallholder farmers to directly participate in the mainstream economy of South Africa. The interviews suggest that some cooperatives were found to efficiently sustain livelihoods, and create limited job opportunities in the community. However, challenges like lack of resources, inadequate training, unregulated management, as well as other underlying internal and external shocks are hindering the contribution of the cooperatives to the local economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of agricultural cooperatives is widely viewed as a potential institutional arrangement that can help achieve rural poverty reduction by improving farmers' welfare in developing countries. However, empirical evidence on the effect of cooperative membership on welfare and rural poverty in sub‐Saharan Africa remains limited. This paper examines the effect of cooperative membership on the welfare and poverty levels of maize‐farming households, using a comprehensive three‐wave panel dataset from three major maize‐producing regions in Ethiopia. The welfare effect of cooperative membership was estimated using a correlated random‐effects regression with a control function to account for unobservable heterogeneity and the endogeneity of cooperative membership. The findings show that cooperative membership significantly increased maize yield and enhanced the welfare of maize farmers by improving household income, subsequently leading to reductions in the prevalence of income poverty and the poverty gap. Further analysis reveals that while cooperative membership is pro‐poor in terms of its effect on maize yield, its effect on income and poverty tends to favour wealthier members with greater assets and extended landholdings. In this light, supporting poor and marginalized farmers with the resources needed would help improve the welfare gains from cooperative membership, thereby ensuring a more inclusive approach to poverty reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores how beneficiaries of South Africa's land reform programme attempt to navigate the contradictory dynamics of production and social reproduction in collectively owned agricultural enterprises. The Mphuzanyoni Communal Property Association in KwaZulu‐Natal province farms with commercial beef herds and the Mayime Cooperative in the Eastern Cape province is engaged in a joint venture dairy farming scheme in partnership with an agribusiness firm. Severe tensions are evident between the social reproduction of households and the requirements of simple or expanded reproduction of agricultural enterprises. Bernstein's concept of competing 'funds' is used to examine struggles over production and reproduction on the farms, in which members of socially differentiated households contest divergent visions for the collective enterprises. Conflicts centre on how labour and capital should be mobilised, how income and other benefits in kind should be distributed to households and whether or not income should be invested for purposes of simple or expanded reproduction of the enterprise. Challenges of governance are rooted in these conflicts rather than in group ownership as a form of property right. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Innovar: Revista de Ciencias Administrativas y Sociales is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Research shows that external factors dominate the key determinants of eco-innovation (EI) adoption in organizations in the agriculture sector. Studies are needed to understand the link between internal organizational capabilities and EI adoption. Given the heterogeneity in the types of agricultural cooperatives based on their origin, this study sought to fill this gap by exploring how opportunity, motivation, and ability affect the adoption of EI by agricultural cooperatives. Using a qualitative methodology, we examined seven farming cooperatives in Vietnam and found three dominant drivers of cooperatives’ formation: market, technology, and authority. Market-driven cooperatives are characterized by the presence of opportunity, motivation, and ability; technology-driven ones by motivation and ability; and authority-driven ones by motivation only. This study contributes to the literature on agricultural cooperatives and EI. It offers recommendations to leaders of cooperatives and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural cooperatives are increasingly being viewed as an effective means of promoting agricultural technologies in developing countries. This paper examines the effects of cooperative membership on inorganic fertilizer use intensity. Employing a three‐wave panel dataset relating to smallholder maize farmers in Ethiopia, we model inorganic fertilizer application as a two‐step decision‐making process involving both fertilizer adoption and its use intensity. To reflect these two related steps, we use a double‐hurdle model. We account for unobservable household heterogeneity and endogeneity utilizing a correlated random‐effects framework and a control function approach. The findings reveal that cooperative membership increased inorganic fertilizer use intensity, as well as the probability of it being used in the first place by 4.2% and 5.3%, respectively. Following further examination of who benefits most among cooperative members, we discovered that membership benefits all farmers in terms of fertilizer use intensity, irrespective of the members' poverty status. However, we did not observe a significant effect of cooperative membership on the likelihood of fertilizer use by land‐poor and less asset‐endowed households. This highlights the necessity of implementing policies that provide poor and marginalized Ethiopian maize farmers with resources that enhance the contribution agricultural cooperatives make to their well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of value co-creation in agricultural production cooperatives leads to the increase of performance and success of these cooperatives. The main purpose of this descriptive-correlation research was to explain a model for developing value co-creation in cooperatives producing off-season products in Kermanshah Province. The statistical population was the members of active cooperatives (N=137), which was collected by census method of 129 questionnaires. The research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire, whose validity was determined by a panel of experts in the fields of rural development, agricultural extension and rural planning. The reliability of the research tool was confirmed by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient and composite reliability. Based on the results five factors affect value co-creation behavior as follows: environmental pressure, managers' support (organizational culture), perceived self-efficacy, social capital, and perceived comparative advantage. The findings of the structural model with Smart-PlS showed that "perceived self-efficacy" (β= 0.657, sig= 0.00) has the greatest direct effect on value co-creation behavior. Another variable influencing the strengthening of value co-creation in the cooperatives was the support of the cooperative managers (β=0.237, sig=0.02), which is deeply under the influence of environmental pressures (β=0.825, sig=0.00). Finally, the research variables explained 64.5% of the variance of the co-creation behavior. Using the structural model presented in this research can help to develop value co-creation behavior in agricultural cooperatives producing off-season products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionOne of the main problems of agricultural cooperatives in Kermanshah province is the weakness in developing entrepreneurial behaviors. If these entrepreneurial behaviors are developed in agricultural cooperatives, it can be expected that their innovative products and services will be developed and expanded, and the field of improving food security and advancing rural and agricultural development programs in Kermanshah province will be provided. So, the present study aimed to design an entrepreneurial behavior development model in agricultural cooperatives in Kermanshah province using an exploratory mixed-method approach.MethodsIn the qualitative part of the study, the participating team included all key informed individuals in the entrepreneurship area in the cooperatives of Kermanshah province. Thirty participants were selected by snowball purposive sampling. The statistical population of the quantitative phase involved 530 managers and members of the active agricultural cooperatives in Kermanshah province. Among them, 223 were selected by the stratified sampling method and the use of Krejcie and Morgan's table. The data collected in the qualitative phase were analyzed by the Nvivo8 software, and the grounded theory was developed in the form of a conceptual model. In the model analysis, the research hypotheses were first compiled and then analyzed by the path analysis method in SPSS 23 and SmartPLS3 software.ResultsThe results of the quantitative phase showed that the causal conditions impacting entrepreneurial behavior development in agricultural cooperatives encompassed the acquisition of economic profits, personal incentives, enjoyment of human and financial credits, internal disputes, insufficient knowledge of the members, and managerial supports. The intervening factors consisted of sanctions, market fluctuations, and climatic changes, and contextual factors comprised cultural factors, diverse working areas, insufficient financial supports, the development of new markets, the institutions' rate of participation in and cooperation with cooperatives, and administrative bureaucracy. Likewise, the proposed strategies embraced promotional-educational practices, the constant modernization of cooperatives, reduction in administrative bureaucracy, supporting entrepreneurship, developing marketing, transparency in the cooperative, eliminating the intermediates, and supportive-financial policies, all of which gave rise to some consequences such as self-sufficiency in production, prevention from cooperative's depression, the development of producing capacities, an increase in job creation, and improvement in the livings of people. The mentioned model was also evaluated in the quantitative section and subsequently approved.DiscussionBased on the results, it can be said that for the development of entrepreneurial behaviors in agricultural cooperatives, a set of factors must be considered in interaction with each other. Based on the results, it is recommended to increase the information and awareness of cooperative members in the field of improving entrepreneurial behavior.

Crop insurance, as a crucial tool for agricultural risk management, holds significant importance in increasing farmers' income. This study analyzed the intrinsic relationship and mechanism between crop insurance, factor allocation, and pear farmers' income. Using field survey data from 1,337 pear farmers in Xixian and Weixian counties in China, we employed OLS regression models and mediation effect models to empirically investigate the direct and indirect impacts of crop insurance on pear farmers' income. Additionally, we examined the moderating role of agricultural cooperatives and group heterogeneity. The research findings revealed the following: (1) Although crop insurance increases agricultural expenses, it mitigates income losses due to disasters, ultimately leading to a net increase in pear farmers' income. (2) Crop insurance enhances agricultural labor and machinery inputs, and encourages pear farmers to adopt green production techniques, thereby boosting their income. (3) The beneficial impact of crop insurance on pear farmers' income is even more pronounced when farmers are members of cooperatives. (4) Heterogeneity analysis showed that for pear farmers who make individual decisions and have smaller land areas, crop insurance can increase their income, while its impact on farmers who make group decisions or have larger land areas is not significant. In conclusion, this study proposes to promote the development of crop insurance, deepen factor market-oriented reforms, support and guide the development of cooperatives, and pay attention to the heterogeneity among different groups of farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Estudios Cooperativos is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Agricultural cooperatives are pivotal in promoting agricultural industrialization but face capital shortages, needing strategic financing selection between bank loans and e-commerce. This paper uses Stackelberg game theory to examine cooperatives' and enterprises' optimal decision-making and motivations under different financing. It scrutinizes preferences for financing methods and explores bank credit policies and e-commerce interest rates in channel selection. Findings suggest that developing favorable policies, like encouraging green credit and e-commerce support for farmers, could significantly improve cooperatives' financing. Expanding digital initiatives in supply chains could also enable more sustainable models. This research illuminates cooperatives' complex decision-making and offers insights to bolster agricultural finance systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aimed to: Analyze current and hoped-for situation of agricultural cooperative societies in Sharkia Governorate, and policies to eliminate diverse performance using “SWOT” analysis. Data was collected from 95 agricultural cooperative societies in Zagazig, Al- Husseiniyah, and Ibrahimiyya centers. Data was collected with a questionnaire during from October until December 2023, The data were analyzed using frequency, ratio, arithmetic mean, standard deviation and relative mean. The results reached are: The most important strategies that support strengths of agricultural cooperative societies are strengthening the application of laws and administrative aspects to protect agricultural land, while implementing the laws of compulsory supply of some strategic agricultural crops as a source of improving association’s revenues. issuing smart farmer card and electronic transactions for easy access to the services of agricultural cooperative society. Also research indicate to Preparing cadres of rural youth who can develop cooperatives and activating cooperative training, as agricultural cooperative society is distinguished by applying regulations and laws to conduct work within it. It’s necessary to seek to stimulate the generation of self-financing for agricultural cooperative society by exploiting availability of environmental resources that support agricultural cooperative society’s establishment of agricultural and service projects. Working to raise efficiency of extension services provided by agricultural cooperative societies by activating contract farming laws and implementing the compulsory supply of some strategic agricultural crops. Working to maintain and improve infrastructure of Agricultural Cooperative Society including stores, buildings and furniture through establishing agricultural projects as a source of improving Agricultural Cooperative Society’s revenues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal Public Administration & Social Management / Administração Pública e Gestão Social is the property of Administracao Publica e Gestao Social and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Nowadays, the agricultural sector is poised to undergo significant transformations towards sustainability. Small-scale farmers' restricted accessibility to resources hinders their ability to effectively adapt to such advancements. This research paper investigates the potential role of agricultural cooperatives as deus ex machina, offering an idea for solving the challenges faced by small-scale farmers. Additionally, it examines the potential benefits agricultural cooperatives could provide to large-scale farmers while simultaneously advocating sustainable agricultural practices. To gather accurate data, individuals who were members of cooperatives in the Larissa region of Greece were interviewed using questionnaires. The sixty qualitative interviews conducted shed light on the fact that cooperatives play a significant role in promoting sustainable agriculture and offer numerous benefits to their members, particularly small-scale farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural cooperatives have an important role in supporting agricultural development and improving the well-being of their members. They provide farmers with financial and social security, as well as fostering an environment that is supportive of collective actions. This study aims to assess the economic and social safety of female cooperative members by looking at their experiences and perceived improvements over time. It examines how gender dynamics, social capital, and cooperative engagement affect women's perceptions of economic and social security through field surveys and structured interviews. According to the preliminary findings, active engagement in cooperatives improves women's feelings of social security, belonging, and empowerment. They might not be as confident in their ability to make economic judgments due to societal prejudices, resource access restrictions, and cultural norms. This study emphasizes the potential of women to break down traditional gender norms and obstacles as well as the economic gains associated with cooperative activity. These findings provide empirical support and inform efforts to promote empowerment and gender equality in agricultural cooperatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the European agri-food sector, operators with substantial bargaining power often engage in unfair trading practices (UTPs). Our paper aims to empirically examine the occurrence of UTPs and their influence on the performance of cooperatives. To fulfill the goal of our paper, we collected responses from 109 cooperatives in Greece after the transposition of a specialized EU Directive (i.e., Directive (EU) 2019/633). We found that, on average, the sampled cooperatives encountered three prohibited ("black") UTPs, while all reported at least one prohibited UTP. Moreover, the two most commonly reported practices (i.e., "unduly late payments" and "buyers' demand that suppliers pay for the deterioration or loss of products that occurred after ownership transfer") exerted a significant negative influence on cooperative performance, even in the presence of a proficient Board of Directors. Consequently, policymakers may need to pay more attention to UTPs and ensure that the national enforcement authorities are well-equipped to act rapidly and effectively against offenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAgricultural cooperatives have been effective conduits for engaging the youths in the sub-sector by increasing employment opportunities and reducing poverty. Conversely, critical determinants of youth participation in the sub-sector have not been wholly entrenched. This study explored various factors to evaluate youths’ participation in the subsector. A cross-sectional survey of 253 randomly selected youths farmers in northern Uganda was employed using a structured questionnaire and a Probit model for analysis. Our results revealed that the main catalyst for youths’ participation was size of land owned and membership fees. Additionally, institutional factors, marketing, household size, hired land, land cultivated, shared responsibility and secondary occupation were authenticated as crucial for participation. The study advocates for a review of the operation guidelines for cooperatives and make amends to lure more youths. The study illuminates on the potency of agricultural cooperatives in stamping a footprint in elevating the economic status of the youths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increases in demand for food, product development, and agribusiness growth provide new opportunities for smallholder farmers in the developing world. Yet, the smallholder farming sector is still confronted by numerous constraints, including low quality and lower levels of produce. Agricultural cooperatives and other farmer organisations have been identified as crucial vehicles to link smallholder farmers with the evolving food systems. However, little is known about their contribution to enhancing their members' participation in sustainable agri-food chains. This paper aims to explore the effectiveness of agricultural cooperatives in empowering smallholder farmers to participate in sustainable agri-food chains in Eastern Cape, South Africa. In achieving this, the study adopted a multi-stratified sampling procedure to select 119 cooperative members in the study area. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and a binary regression model. Our findings revealed that the majority (70%) of cooperatives were participating in crop production. Most (75%) of the cooperative members were old, with a mean average of 52 years. Additionally, the majority (93%) of members reported that agricultural cooperatives contributed positively to their livelihoods. The results of the probit model established that quality, quantity, level of education, and access to information influenced the level of participation in storage, processing, and distribution levels at different levels of significance. Although the findings of this research reported a positive contribution of cooperatives to their members, the study identifies a greater need for cooperatives to be inclusive of young people and improve government support. Also, the study recommends a blended financing model that will cater to smallholder farmers who do not have collateral. Finally, the study recommends that the current extension and advisory services be tailored to cater to the training needs of smallholder farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A central collective action issue in agricultural cooperatives is the free‐rider problem, a prevalent form of which arises when members systematically side‐sell to competing chain actors. Despite the plethora of studies on side‐selling's antecedents, little is known about side‐selling's actual consequences, particularly from the standpoint of cooperative members. In two studies, we aim to deliver a member‐based assessment of side‐selling's influence on critical cooperative benefits and explore possible solutions. In the first study, with survey data from 128 members of four fruit cooperatives in Greece, we show that side‐selling has a negative effect on perceived cooperative benefits, even in the presence of other collective action issues (e.g., the influence costs problem). In the same study, we posit and demonstrate that side‐selling's aversive impact on cooperative benefits can be appeased when members think that their cooperative's transparency regarding cooperative activities is high. In the second study, with interview data from 20 members, we find that different punitive (e.g., expelling members) and collaborative (e.g., fostering trust) solutions are considered effective. Accordingly, our article advances extant knowledge of an issue that strikes at the heart of cooperative activity and offers valuable insights to cooperative decision‐makers seeking to confront it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the legal aspects of the agricultural cooperation, which is important for the economic and social development of the state, especially in war and post-war times, as the basis for ensuring food and environmental security in Ukraine. The concepts of «sustainable agriculture», «food security» and «environmental security» are considered. It has been established that at the present stage limited attention is paid to the issue of implementing sustainable agriculture as a priority direction for achieving food and environmental security of Ukraine. It was determined that in order to implement sustainable agriculture, it is necessary to harmonize social, ecological and economic factors in the agrarian sector of the economy of Ukraine, especially in the field of agricultural cooperation. It is emphasized that there is an insufficient level of synergy between the environmental and agrarian policies of the state, environmental factors are not sufficiently integrated into the system of agrarian relations, into cooperative legislation, particularly in the context of the agricultural cooperation. In conditions of European integration processes, the specialized Law of Ukraine «On Agricultural Cooperation» is not fully oriented towards ensuring sustainable agriculture: it does not contain the term «sustainable agriculture» or provisions on environmental protection, food and environmental security. The Law of Ukraine «On Cooperation» also does not cover environmental aspects. In the course of the study, it was substantiated that a necessary condition for the proper implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, the introduction of sustainable agriculture in Ukraine in the field of the agricultural cooperation is the strengthening of the legal framework, the creation of an appropriate legal field that will reflect the focus of agricultural cooperation on achieving sustainable agriculture, as well as ensuring food and environmental security. In this context proposals for improving the cooperative legislation of Ukraine are made in the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reintroduction of cooperatives is part of the Georgian government's new rural development policy, supported by several international donors' interventions. This paper estimates the impact of small farmers' participation in new collective actions. We employ farm-level data from 210 Georgian hazelnuts, grapes and honey farmers and use a treatment effects model that accounts for selection bias. We find a positive and significant impact of participation in new groups on farm revenue and net returns. The findings indicate that even though the cooperatives are still young, the government policies and donor interventions already bring some tangible economic benefits to small farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study identifies the endogenous and exogenous factors that influence whether small coffee-growing households decide to join agricultural cooperatives in South Kivu, a conflict-prone province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). After a pilot test, data were collected through a cross-sectional survey in the territories of Kabare, Kalehe and Idjwi, and 412 randomly selected small coffee producers, coffee cooperative members and non-members participated in the survey. Geographical representativeness was observed in the distribution of this sample across the three territories. A logit model was applied to determine the main factors of membership. In a challenging context such as the eastern DRC, trust in the leaders and initiators of an agricultural cooperative, the need for small coffee-growing households to build up social capital through the cooperative and the household’s perception of the adequacy of the economic benefits (dividends) to be received were the most significant factors in the decision to join or remain in an agricultural cooperative. Other factors such as the age of the household head, the household’s need to access to agricultural inputs and technical training, and the distance between the plantation and the nearest coffee washing station also had a significant effect on the decision to join a coffee cooperative in the eastern DRC. The results of this study help to clarify the dynamics of rural development and the management of agricultural cooperatives in difficult socioeconomic contexts, such as the eastern DRC. The findings also have implications for actions, strategies and public policies to be adopted by cooperatives, market system development actors and the government to promote social cohesion and improve the living conditions of the rural population through agricultural cooperatives.

Abstract Background Lockdown measures of COVID-19 have had different repercussions on the well-being of households in West Africa depending on their resilience capacity. This study compares the dynamic of households’ food insecurity during COVID-19 pandemic according to their membership in different types of agricultural cooperatives in four West African countries, namely Ghana, Mali, Ivory Coast, and Senegal. Methodology We used data collected from 1270 members of agricultural cooperatives and regression analyses, to understand the link between the nature of their cooperatives and the food insecurity dynamic of their household, while controlling for other sociodemographic characteristics. Cooperative were categorized either “active” or “poorly/not active” depending on their capacity to conduct initiatives that address the needs of their members, to maintain communication between leaders and members, the participation of members to decisions, and their possession of a good understanding of business management. Food insecurity is measured using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) and the Coping Strategy Index (CSI). Respondents were asked to answer questions related to their food security status for the period before and during the pandemic. Results The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected respondents' food security status. These effects varied according to the severity of sanitary measures implemented and to the dynamism of cooperatives. Households of poorly or not active cooperatives have experienced more food insecurity in Ivory Coast and Senegal than those who were members of active cooperatives; in Ghana the effects were significant but similar in both types of cooperatives. Members of both cooperatives in Mali appear to have been less affected than members in other countries. Furthermore, households of poorly/not active cooperatives have used more severe coping strategies in Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Senegal during the pandemic. Conclusions Strong collaboration and support provided by cooperatives can contribute to increase the resilience capacity of their members to shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study investigates the influence of risk management on collaborative innovation and the intervention of communication intensity in agricultural cooperatives. A survey was conducted with managers of Brazilian agricultural cooperatives listed in the Organization of Cooperatives of Brazil. The structural equation modeling technique was applied to a sample of 103 valid answers. The results show that risk management positively influences collaborative innovation and communication intensity, and that communication intensity positively influences collaborative innovation. Furthermore, a mediating effect of communication intensity was observed in the relationship between risk management and collaborative innovation. Theoretical implications arise from the observation of the intervention of communication intensity in this relationship, mainly by providing insights to expand research in this direction. Practical implications also arise from observing the intervention of communication intensity in this relationship, such as alerts to the managers of these organizations about the relevance of aligning communication and risk management to the purpose of collaborative innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revue TED: Territoires, Environnement et Développement is the property of Universite Ibn Tofail and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research aims to investigate the causality between access to computers (AC), internet networks (IN), digital administration skills (DAS), and financial literacy (FL) on profits (PFT). This study’s objectivity compares agricultural cooperatives that adopt technology with adopt non-technology. Secondary data was explored to analyze the performance of active agricultural cooperatives which are partners of the East Kutai Regency government. Using panel data regression from eighteen sub-districts in East Kutai, it is proven that technology adopting agricultural cooperatives were more prominent than non -technology adopting agricultural cooperatives during 2017–2022. However, there is a harmony in the statistical findings from both observations (agricultural cooperatives that adopt technology and non-adopters of technology), where access to computers and financial literacy both have a significant effect on profits. Other analysis results show that internet networks and digital administration skills have an insignificant impact on profits. The study's implications provide valuable output for the future sustainability of agricultural cooperatives. The success of agricultural cooperatives depends greatly on the effectiveness of the application of technology. Through this research, it is hoped that it can provide open space for academic, managerial and policy-making development to restructure the agricultural cooperative system, especially optimizing internet networks and administrative skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many agricultural cooperatives in Thailand do not conduct agribusiness and face declining profits. Therefore, this study examined the factors influencing their profit and agribusiness choices. The results reveal that operating capital, the presence of a trading business and average payback positively affect profit. In contrast, the number of cooperative members and the number of staff members have a negative effect on profit. In addition, the number of members, the presence of a manager, the presence of a cooperative office and the ability to raise funds have a significant positive impact on the likelihood of conducting trading and compilation businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural cooperatives greatly influence agricultural and rural modernization in China. Based on 381 farmer samples in the arid Tarim River Basin, this empirical study aimed to construct an index system for the exploration of the relationship between cooperatives and farmers' collective action by using the Socio-Ecological System framework. The results showed that agricultural cooperatives helped to empower farmers to act collectively. Agricultural cooperatives, with the mechanisms of collective decision making, institutional constraints, and internal supervision, could realize the integration of resources required for farmers' collective action and promote the sharing of risks and benefits. By providing financing support and a platform for resource integration, cooperatives could reduce constrains induced by economic difference among farmers; enhance village leadership, organization, and coordination; and promote the accumulation of social capital and villagers' sense of identity with the village. Particularly, cooperatives could support farmers to adopt water-saving irrigation technologies and reduce their over-dependence on chemical pesticides and fertilizers, thus promoting farmers' collective action. Therefore, the development of agricultural cooperatives will help enhance farmers' collective action, promote the modernization of rural governance, and realize rural revitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is a sector crucial to the growth of the Nigerian economy. In the past few years, its contribution to gross domestic product (gdp) has averaged at about 25 percent. Smallholders pool their resources in collective action to form agricultural cooperatives in order to increase farm productivity and income. These cooperatives account signifi- cantly for the development of the agriculture sector. Digitalization, on the other hand, has gained currency as a transformative strategy for agriculture. This study aimed to examine in broad terms the perspectives of digitalization in the rice value chain created by members of cooperative societies in Anambra State. A total of 180 members of cooperative societies across the four agricultural zones of the state who participate in the rice value chain were selected for the study using a multistage sampling technique. A structured and validated questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. The data were consequently analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage & ranking) and inferential statistics (chisquare & cramer's v). The study identified rudimentary digital tools and that technologies enabled members to use mobile phones for the purposes of financial services, input delivery, market access and weather prediction. However, technologies requiring high-level skills for their implementation were obviously lacking among these cooperators. Also, the ways in which individual, institutional and technological factors limit adoption of these technologies were empirically identified. However, members generally welcomed the use and application of digital tools to improve their value chain activities. There was the perception among members that though digitalization was necessary, its unguarded use in the processes of cooperatives could erode their participation in the governance of the cooperative, thereby compromising the principle of democratic member control. The study identified an urgent need for a strong digital infrastructure backbone, encouraging the formation of agricultural digital solution cooperatives, digital literacy programs support from companies providing special skill agricultural digitalization solutions, and instituting government grants to support the high cost of investments required for digitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential of agricultural cooperatives to foster socioeconomic development is a critical issue in developing countries. This study examines the factors that influence market choice among South African agricultural cooperatives. Data for 381 agricultural cooperatives were collected from the Cooperative Data Analysis System, drawn from the original database of 3,197 cases from 2017. Cases with missing observations were omitted. A multivariate approach utilising principal component analysis and K-means clustering was employed to identify the typologies of market choices. Multinomial logistic regression was then applied to determine the factors influencing agricultural cooperatives' choice of market typologies. The study reveals that the financial and social efficiency of agricultural cooperatives, the age of the institution, the square of the age of the institution, ownership of livestock, cooperative size, and credit access all influence market typology selection. Training programs such as those in financial management, corporate governance, accounting and bookkeeping, management committees, and the number of managers in cooperatives also impact cooperatives' market choice. The findings of this study should facilitate the design of policies that cater to cooperatives encountering diverse market choices. By influencing the choices of agricultural cooperatives, stakeholders can contribute to more meaningful cooperative involvement in markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do you explain centralized farm mobilization in Japan and decentralized farm mobilization in Korea in response to agricultural liberalization pressures? The divergence is puzzling given strong similarities in Japan and Korea's agricultural sectors and institutions. Electoral competition that accentuates the urban–rural divide in society works in favor of centralized farm political mobilization, whereas electoral competition that minimizes the urban–rural divide works in favor of decentralized farm political mobilization. The logic is that when electoral competition cuts across the urban–rural cleavage, farmers face greater challenges in mobilizing under a centralized farm group for electoral purposes. Simply put, farmers are unable to act as a unified voting bloc. Relatedly, political parties also face less electoral incentives to specifically target farmers as a unified voting bloc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the development of agricultural cooperatives in Kyrgyzstan from an entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) perspective. Agricultural development priorities explain cooperatives' importance in Kyrgyz government's policies, but cooperatives still fail at countering the challenges of the smallholder economy. Considering agricultural cooperatives as a form of rural entrepreneurship, this paper aims to contribute to the discussion of the factors that support cooperatives in developing countries adapting the EE framework to cooperative entrepreneurship. Using a content analysis method, we analysed and coded textual data from documentary and archival publications on the agricultural cooperatives in Kyrgyzstan published by the government, cooperatives and their unions and the reports of international organizations. We identify five main dimensions of the cooperative entrepreneurial ecosystem for cooperatives: (1) policy and regulatory framework; (2) education and skills; (3) market environment; (4) culture; (5) networks. We found that even if the overall structure of cooperatives' EE can be comparable to conventional enterprises, its sub‐elements significantly differ for cooperative enterprises. Despite its exploratory character and single‐case research design, this article contributes to the theoretical discussion on cooperative entrepreneurial ecosystems in post‐socialist developing contexts and offers a framework of analysis for cooperative development policies and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the barriers that Moroccan agricultural cooperatives face in adopting E‐commerce and the perceived impact this approach would hae on their business performance. We surveyed 120 Moroccan agricultural cooperatives and interviewed 13 cooperative presidents to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. We use descriptive and inferential statistics including independent t‐tests, One‐way ANOVA and post‐hoc analysis for quantitative data while we use thematic analysis for qualitative analysis. We document that the most important barrier to the adoption of E‐commerce in Moroccan agricultural cooperatives is the lack of information related to the low digital literacy of the cooperatives in question. Further, cooperatives believe that E‐commerce will have the highest impact on their brand image and competitiveness but will have the lowest impact on operating speed. Our results show that the higher the level of digitalization the higher the perceived impact of E‐commerce on business performance of Moroccan cooperatives. Our study provides a basis for understanding the challenges faced by Moroccan agricultural cooperatives in adopting E‐commerce. Our results can be used to craft policies and programs that ease the integration of this segment into the digital ecosystem of Morocco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the relationship between cooperative membership and investments in organic soil amendments in Cameroon. We use switching regressions to reduce selection bias and estimate differential equations for both cooperative members and non-members. Cooperative membership exhibits a positive and significant relationship with the use of organic soil amendments such as farmyard manure and compost. Building on this, we further examine actual-counterfactual relationships where we find cooperative membership to be beneficial to both members and non-members should they be members. We also highlight significant heterogeneities and differential associations in the drivers and constraints of organic soil investments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of GeSec: Revista de Gestao e Secretariado is the property of Sindicato das Secretarias e Secretarios do Estado de Sao Paulo (SINSESP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article explores the liquidity risk management of agricultural cooperatives in Isabela, Philippines. The study reveals that these cooperatives face low levels of liquidity risk and have implemented various strategies to minimize and mitigate this risk. However, they still encounter challenges in effectively managing liquidity risk. The research aims to benefit stakeholders by enhancing cooperative operations and providing more support to members. The study utilized surveys, interviews, and information from annual reports and financial statements to gather data. Overall, the article suggests that most agricultural cooperatives in Isabela have effective liquidity risk management practices, but there is room for improvement and further research in this area. [Extracted from the article]

The marketing channel is the lifeline of agricultural product circulation and marketing. Multi-level and multi-channel smooth circulation of agricultural products is an important way for agricultural cooperatives to realize the value of their goal. This paper builds an agricultural Internet of Things service system to lay an informatization foundation for the development of dynamic marketing channels of “new media platform + agricultural cooperatives”. With the use of new media platforms as an operational mode and the marketing strategy of agricultural cooperatives as guidance, the marketing effectiveness of agricultural products can be improved. Adopting Internet thinking and innovation trends, comprehending the characteristics of new media marketing, and encouraging collaboration between new media platforms and agricultural cooperatives. Based on 28,450 agricultural cooperatives in China, the marketing channel mode selection and characteristic data were analyzed, and it was found that among the 2,617 cooperatives using new media platforms for channel marketing, the product price fluctuation was between 0 and 10%, and the difficulty of product sales was stable in the interval of [0,40], which indicated that the new media marketing channel could make the price of agricultural products stable and easier to sell. Evolutionary game analysis found that the choice of cooperation or non-cooperation between agricultural cooperatives and new media platforms is related to the coefficient of benefit analysis, the coefficient of cooperation cost, and the liquidated damages of the cooperation between the two parties. Therefore, in order to improve the intensity of cooperation between new media platforms and agricultural cooperatives, improvements should be made in terms of benefits, costs, and liquidated damages.

Copyright of GeSec: Revista de Gestao e Secretariado is the property of Sindicato das Secretarias e Secretarios do Estado de Sao Paulo (SINSESP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the current Cuban context, based on the demands of endogenous local development and the natural, environmental, technological, socioeconomic and legal environment in which agricultural cooperatives develop their activities, the improvement of comprehensive management of risk and insurance systems is an unavoidable need, as an essential component of their management, since it allows these organizations to face more effectively the events to which they are exposed. In the specific case of the municipality of Consolación del Sur, there are 50 structures of this type, which are key to the development of the municipality's productive center and, therefore, to local sustainable development. In recent years, these organizations have had important losses due to different events, especially natural and technological, which have affected their economic and financial stability. The research presented here is aimed at analyzing the particularities of the process of comprehensive management of risk and insurance in the agricultural cooperatives of the municipality of Consolación del Sur. For its development, theoretical and empirical methods were used, as well as techniques for the collection and processing of information, making it possible to carry out a diagnosis of the current state of the process under study in the agricultural cooperatives of the municipality, which allowed determining the management that these organizations make of uncertainty, risks and insurance, the development of appropriate tools for the identification, evaluation, reduction, mitigation and control of the risks that affect the normal development of these companies, as key actors for the development of the municipality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we assess whether household outsourcing production tasks provided by tobacco cooperatives affect household technical efficiency, using the survey data from 449 households in Guizhou Province, China in 2014. The one‐step estimation of the stochastic frontier production function is employed. We also use the instrumental variable approach to address the potential selection biases that may arise from unobserved factors that are correlated with both outsourcing service adoption and technical efficiency. The empirical results show that the farmers' decision to outsource agricultural services provided by cooperatives has a positive effect on technical efficiency. The effects of outsourcing on technical efficiency are highly heterogeneous at different production stages. It is also interesting to note that the magnitudes of outsourcing effects on technical efficiency are similar between labor‐intensive services and technology‐intensive services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Historia Regional is the property of Historia Regional and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article provides a new explanation for the positive role of cooperatives in quality provision along the agri‐food chain. We study the economic rationale for cooperative acting as an intermediary between producers and a downstream (DS) firm when the DS firm cannot observe the individual quality of producers but only the average quality. We derive the optimal contract to elicit the quality and quantity incentives for producers, depending on whether the DS firm directly deals with producers or indirectly deals with them through a producer‐owned cooperative. We find that when the DS firm directly deals with producers via secret contracts, the opportunistic behavior of the DS firm on producers leads to lower quality and quantity levels. The opportunistic behavior is prevented when the DS firm deals with the producer cooperative. However, the contract should offer a sufficiently high quality payment to overcome the free‐riding inefficiency of the producer members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]