Determinants of participation and intensity of participation in collective action: evidence from smallholder avocado farmers in Kenya

Abstract

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.

Market Participation Intensity Effect on Productivity of Smallholder Cowpea Farmers: Evidence From the Northern Region of Ghana

“…Based on insights from previous literature and economic theory, factors that affect productivity are generally composed of household characteristics, resource endowments (defined as private and public assets and service variables)/institutional factors, transactions costs, location variables, and market prices (Gyau et al 2016;Rios et al 2009;Govereh and Jayne, 2003). Household characteristics are denoted by five controlled variables, which are age, gender educational level, dependency ratio and farm size.…”

Analysis of the Factors Influencing Market Participation among Smallholder Rice Farmers in Magway Region, Central Dry Zone of Myanmar

“…Economic liberalization has provided opportunities for smallholder farmers to diversify their products and take their surplus to nearby markets [12]. However, one drawback regarding smallholder farmers is that they lack marketing knowledge and as a result, most of the crops are sold with lower prices at their farm gate or in local markets [13]. Limited access to guaranteed markets for their produce and for the acquisition of inputs is another major problem the smallholders confront [14].…”

Gender Patterns in Labor Allocation to Avocado Production: Evidence from Kenya

“…With regards to exclusion restrictions, the double hurdle model of Cragg's (1971) did not give any guidance on variables that should be included in both equations as in the case of Type 2 Tobit where exclusion restrictions are stipulated for model identification. This study therefore used socio-economic and demographic variables such as household characteristics, physical and financial endowments, social capital and distance to market posited to influence both participation and intensity decisions (Gyau et al 2016;Palacios-Lopez et al 2015). The overarching hypothesis is that females and males face different sets of constraints which determine their labor allocation behavior to various activities.…”

“…Previous studies have investigated different facets of production and marketing of avocado. For instance, Gyau et al, (2016) analyzed factors that determine collective action and how it influences avocado production and marketing; Omolo et al, (2011) investigated avocado marketing in Trans-Nzoia district and Oduol et al (2014) assessed women's participation along the avocado value chain in Kandara sub-county and Marani district. While these studies investigated interlinkages within the avocado value chain, the primary facet of production and structural changes within the household that may hamper production of the fruit and resulting market participation have not been addressed.…”