Determinants of Success and Coping Strategies of Collective Action in Ethiopia:- The Case of Agricultural Cooperatives

Abstract

In Ethiopia, collective action in general and agricultural cooperatives in particular are an age-old tradition that plays an enormous roles in improving the living standard of smallholder farmers. However, there were a number of internal and external  determinants that  hindered their success. Thus, this review paper aimed at reviewing  the major determinants of success and coping strategies of collective action with particular focus on agricultural cooperatives in Ethiopia. Result of the review revealed that the success of agricultural cooperatives were influenced by a number of internal and external determinants. Accordingly, governance, mutual trust, heterogeneity of members, education, training and distance to the nearest markets were the major internal determinants while market access, access to finance, availability of infrastructures and property rights were the major external determinants of success. Besides, realization of effective leadership, improvement of access to infrastructures, keeping of mutual trust, creating of awareness, development of financial system, enhancing access to market and securing property rights were the major coping up strategies identified. Therefore, to realize their mission and vision, agricultural cooperatives ought to incorporate those determinants and coping up mechanisms in their plan.Keywords:  Agricultural cooperatives, Collective action, EthiopiaDOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-9-01Publication date:May 31st 2020