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The effects of agricultural cooperatives on smallholder livelihoods and agricultural performance in Cambodia

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  • Eric Ofori
  • Gabriel S Sampson
  • Jessie Vipham

Abstract

Cooperatives are increasingly advocated as a means to improve incomes, livelihoods and the sustainability of smallholder farmers. This study analyzes the impact of commercial vegetable cooperative membership on smallholder agricultural performance in Cambodia. Institutional heterogeneities are considered across cooperatives and various econometric techniques are used to control for potential selection bias. The impacts of horticulture on agricultural outcomes are also analyzed. The results indicate that membership of commercial vegetable cooperatives has so far had no effect on agricultural incomes or the value or amounts of agricultural inputs. However, results indicate that membership has affected technology choice, access to credit services and information transmission through technological training. Additionally, there is evidence that horticulture, as a component of overall agricultural diversification, can augment farm income. The results suggest that much of the benefit of cooperative membership stems from the cooperative's provision of services, which might not be easily inferred from measures of member incomes.

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  • Eric Ofori & Gabriel S Sampson & Jessie Vipham, 2019. "The effects of agricultural cooperatives on smallholder livelihoods and agricultural performance in Cambodia," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 43(4), pages 218-229, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:natres:v:43:y:2019:i:4:p:218-229
    DOI: 10.1111/1477-8947.12180
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    2. Huma Neupane & Krishna P. Paudel & Mandeep Adhikari & Qinying He, 2022. "Impact of cooperative membership on production efficiency of smallholder goat farmers in Nepal," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 93(2), pages 337-356, June.
    3. Frimpong-Manso, Justice & Tham-Agyekum, E. K. & Aidoo, D. C. & Boansi, David & Jones, E. O. & John-Eudes Andivi Bakang1, 2022. "Cooperative Membership Status And Adoption Of Good Agronomic Practices: Empirical Evidence From Cocoa Farmers In Atwima Mponua District, Ghana," Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Economics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, vol. 43(1), June.
    4. Cooper, G.S. & Shankar, B. & Rich, K.M. & Ratna, N.N. & Alam, M.J. & Singh, N. & Kadiyala, S., 2021. "Can fruit and vegetable aggregation systems better balance improved producer livelihoods with more equitable distribution?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    5. Ahmet Candemir & Sabine Duvaleix & Laure Latruffe, 2021. "Agricultural Cooperatives And Farm Sustainability – A Literature Review," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(4), pages 1118-1144, September.
    6. Ali Hamidi & Aliakbar Mehrabi & Seyed Akbar Javadi & Aliakbar Imani, 2022. "Investigating the factors affecting participation in natural resources development cooperatives: The case study of Ardabil Province," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 46(3), pages 311-329, August.
    7. Nyda Chhinh & Serey Sok & Veasna Sou & Pheakdey Nguonphan, 2022. "Local Engagement in the Agricultural Cooperatives (ACs) Operation in Cambodia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-33, December.
    8. Lei Wu & Chuanjian Li & Yang Gao, 2022. "Regional agricultural cooperatives and subjective wellbeing of rural households in China," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(S2), pages 138-158, November.
    9. Meiyuan Wang & Bin He & Jinsong Zhang & Yanan Jin, 2021. "Analysis of the Effect of Cooperatives on Increasing Farmers’ Income from the Perspective of Industry Prosperity Based on the PSM Empirical Study in Shennongjia Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-18, November.
    10. Zhanwen Shi & Erbao Cao, 2021. "Risk pooling cooperative games in contract farming," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 69(1), pages 117-139, March.

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