Access to markets is one important strategy which can assist smallholder farmers to move out of poverty. Collective action through farmers' groups has been identified as a strategy to improve the participation of farmers in markets. This study analyzes the determinants of participation and intensity of participation of collective action in production and marketing of avocado in Kenya. Group participation and the intensity were modelled as a binary choice decision and analyzed using logit models. Interviews were conducted with 301 farmers in avocado production zones in Kenya. The result showed that age, education, gender and perceptions on knowledge and improved technology influence farmers' decision to participate in group activities. Occupation, area of residence and farmers' perception on knowledge and improved technology use, and economic benefits had a significant influence on the intensity of participation. We conclude that it is crucial to educate farmers through trainings, workshops and seminars before group formation in order to ensure that they understand the importance and impacts of collective action. Finally, development practitioners and government organizations which intend to intervene through farmers' groups should understand farmers' perceptions and hence expectations from the groups.
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Determinants of participation and intensity of participation in collective action: evidence from smallholder avocado farmers in Kenya
A. Gyau Related information, M. Mbugua Related information
2University of Nairobi, Department of Agricultural Economics, Box 29053-00620, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya.
, J. Oduol Related information1World Agroforestry Centre, UN Avenue, 00100 Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya.
Journal on Chain and Network Science: 16
(2)- Pages: 147 - 156
Published Online: September 27, 2016
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Keywords: farmers' groups, perceptions, participation, intensity, market failures
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Issue Details
Journal on Chain and Network Science
Journal on Chain and Network Science

Print ISSN: 1569-1829
Online ISSN: 1875-0931
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