The Influence Of Agricultural And Marketing Cooperative Societies On Socioeconomic Well-Being Of Smallholder Cashewnut Farmers In Tanzania: A Case Of Cashewnuts Cooperative Society In Tunduru

ABSTRACT

This study assessed the influence of Agricultural and Marketing Cooperative Societies on the socio-economic well-being of smallholder cashew nuts farmers in Tunduru District, Tanzania. The study focused on the cashew nut smallholder farmers in the area. Precisely, the study examined the contribution of institution capacity, collective bargain and network development on the socio economic wellbeing of smallholder farmers. Both, qualitative and quantitative approaches were employed in conducting the study. The quantitative data were collected from 200 Agricultural and Cooperative Marketing Society members using a questionnaire while the qualitative data were collected through 6 in-depth interviews with cooperative officers. Purposive sampling was used to get 200 respondents from the two Agricultural and Cooperative Marketing Societies (Mumsasichema and Naluwale) who formed the unit of analysis in this study. Quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, multiple regression model and structural equation model. Qualitative data were analyzed through thematic analysis. The analysis revealed that collective bargain (B=0.18, p=0.043) and network development (B=0.80, p=0.001) had a significant impact on the socio-economic well-being of smallholder cashew nut farmers while institutional capacity had no significant influence (B=0.057, p=0.363) on the socio-economic well-being of smallholder cashew nut farmers. The study concludes that institutional capacity, collective bargain, and network development influence the socio-economic wellbeing of smallholder cashew nut farmers. The study recommends a mechanism to improve lobbying and coaching to attract more buyers of the products. Efforts should be made to coach members of Agricultural and Cooperative Marketing Societies to develop good farming methods and marketing strategies for agricultural products. Agricultural and Cooperative Marketing Societies should put more efforts into securing marketing channels for the members.