Farmer co-operatives, group enterprises and gender in Kilimanjaro region: a socio-economic analysis.
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Date
2001
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
In this study the level of women participation in co-operative activities and the socio
economic and cultural characteristics, which limit women’s participation in co-operatives
in Kilimanjaro region were studied.
Moshi Rural and Mwanga districts were selected for the study. Seventeen primary co
operative societies and 4 women group enterprises were selected from the two districts.
Descriptive statistics, mainly percentages and means were computed. A T-test was done
to determine if there was any difference in yields between primary cooperative societies’
members and non members. Chi-square analysis was also carried out to determine if
there was any significant relationship between respondents’ general characteristics and
membership in cooperatives. Gross margin analysis was done to establish relative
monthly profitability of the selected women group enterprises.
Based on the analysis, it was found that several factors have led into low production of
coffee and poor performance of primary co-operative societies that deal with coffee
marketing. Some of the factors responsible for this situation included (a) high price of
agricultural inputs, which has caused the majority of farmers to stop using purchased
inputs. This has lowered production of coffee, which has in turn lowered the amount of
coffee collected by co-operatives, (b) procurement of coffee being dominated by private
traders, which has further reduced the quantity of coffee collected by co-operative
societies, and (c) shortage of land in Kilimanjaro region. Furthermore, the study foundiii
that women participation in primary co-operative societies as members and leaders is
limited by the fact that women do not own land for production of coffee. To overcome
this deficiency, some women engage in group enterprises. Such group enterprises do not
perform very well due to capital inadequacy, time constraints for participation in group
enterprises and lack of market for the goods produced. Also where credit and extension
services were available, only a few women get access to such services compared to men.
It was also found that low production of coffee, presence of private buyers who provide
an alternative market to primary co-operative societies, and the insignificant difference in
coffee yields between members and non-members have made some farmers reluctant to
buy shares and become primary co-operative society members.
Based on the study findings it is recommended that (a) where credit schemes to assist
poor rural women are available, a wide range of collateral besides land (which is limited to
most women) should be accepted and focus should be on individual women as well, (b)
since co-operatives have previously failed due to lack of debt collection policy, an effort
be made in future to make sure that parallel to creation of women’s credit facilities, debt
collection is adequately enforced to sustain such institution, (c) income generating
projects, which do not require substantial capital should be initiated in order to enable
most rural women to generate reasonable income, (d) women should be assisted to secure
markets, (e) when assistance for rural development is provided, focus should be put on
enhancing women capacity to utilise it profitably and sustainably, and (f) for every primary
co-operative society, there should be a specified percent of women in membership and in
election of leaders, women should be included.
Description
MSc.Dissertation in Agricultural Economics
Keywords
Farmer cooperatives, Kilimanjaro region, Group enterprises, Women participation