The study has estimated the impact of agricultural cooperatives on participation of smallholder farmers in modern agri-food markets by selecting 120 tomato farmers from three districts in Mashonaland East province in Zimbabwe. The Random Utility Model was employed to assess the impact of agricultural cooperatives. The results have indicated that a cooperative member was more likely to participate in modern agri-food markets compared to a non-member. The odds of participation in modern agri-food market were higher for members of a secondary cooperative (it is a cooperative of two or more primary cooperatives) than of primary cooperative members. According to the study, the probability of a farmer's participation in modern agri-food market was 0.42 if he is member of a primary cooperative and it would be 0.78 if this primary cooperative forms a secondary cooperative. The study has also found that farm infrastructure in the shape of a greenhouse is likely to influence smallholder farmers to market their produce through modern agri-food market channels. The study has recommended establishment of secondary cooperatives and adoption of greenhouse technology.
Modern agri-food markets, agricultural cooperatives, smallholder farmers, tomato, Zimbabwe
