Determinants of membership to agricultural cooperatives in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: An exploratory study of the coffee sector in South Kivu province

Abstract

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.