RT info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis
T1 Agricultural cooperatives and local economic development in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo: The coffee sector
A1 Muzigirwa Muke, Emmanuel
A2 Universidad de Valladolid. Escuela de Doctorado
K1 Agricultura
K1 Agricultural cooperatives
K1 Cooperativas agrícolas
K1 Coffee smallholders
K1 Pequeños productores de café
K1 Democratic Republic of Congo
K1 República Democrática del Cong
K1 5102.01 Agricultura
AB Agricultural cooperatives play a crucial role in rural development and poverty reduction, particularly in conflict-affected contexts such as South Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These organizations facilitate smallholders’ access to resources, inputs, and markets, while strengthening their bargaining power. However, coffee cooperatives in the region face major challenges related to their operations and governance.This study addresses three key issues: the motivations for joining cooperatives, the level of members’ commitment, and the impact of participation on household poverty. The data were drawn from 412 rural households across the territories of Kabare, Kalehe, and Idjwi, selected through stratified random sampling (153 members and 259 non-members).First, to identify the factors influencing membership, a Logit model was applied. The results show that trust in leadership and the desire to strengthen social capital are the main motivations for joining a cooperative. Other important factors include economic security and access to training, credit, and new markets. Transparent management and the equitable distribution of dividends encourage new members to join. Likewise, the youth of the household head and the interest in capacity building have a positive effect on the decision to participate in cooperatives.Second, members’ level of commitment was assessed through an index composed of loyalty, identification, and participation variables, analyzed using an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model. The most influential factors were found to be economic benefits, trust in leadership, and involvement in decision-making. Education level and gender also affect members’ permanence in the cooperative, although economic reasons remain the most decisive. For most participants, the cooperative primarily represents a stable and reliable source of income.Finally, the impact of cooperative membership on household poverty was estimated using Propensity Score Matching and the Heckman selection model. The results reveal an unexpected outcome: participation increases multidimensional poverty among members by 6%. Without denying the potential of cooperatives to reduce poverty in South Kivu, the findings suggest that, under current conditions, their mode of operation may actually increase economic vulnerability. It is therefore recommended to reform governance structures, strengthen leadership capacities, and prioritize members’ interests, ensuring transparency, inclusiveness, and collaboration.
YR 2026
FD 2026
LK https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/83927
UL https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/83927
LA spa
NO Escuela de Doctorado
DS UVaDOC
RD 13-abr-2026