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 actionthrough farmers' groups has been identified as a strategy to improve the participation of farmers in markets. This studyanalyzes the determinants of participation and intensity of participation of collective action in production and marketingof avocado in Kenya. Group participation and the intensity were modelled as a binary choice decision and analyzed usinglogit models. Interviews were conducted with 301 farmers in avocado production zones in Kenya. The result showed thatage, education, gender and perceptions on knowledge and improved technology influence farmers' decision to participatein 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 educatefarmers through trainings, workshops and seminars before group formation in order to ensure that they understand theimportance and impacts of collective action. Finally, development practitioners and government organizations which intendto intervene through farmers' groups should understand farmers' perceptions and hence expectations from the groups