Factors affecting performance of youth and womens agricultural cooperatives: A case of some selected cooperative societies in Eastern Cape, South Africa

Rural youth and women are the major victims of poverty caused by deprivation. As a group, they lack access to land, financial capital and participation in decision processes in the family and community levels. One way of overcoming this challenge is through the formation of cooperative societies. As cooperative societies are saddled with the responsibility of providing needs to their members and enhance the quality of their member’s livelihoods, they are however, lacking the financial muscle in providing adequate loans and access to credit which hinders their performance. This study therefore examined the impact of entrepreneurial spirit on the performance of youth and women cooperatives in Eastern Cape, South Africa. In achieving this goal, data were collected from 70 cooperators by means of the random sampling technique. Data collected using the questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive and inferential model of regression. Evidence from the study revealed that youth and women cooperators are involved in different empowerment activities. Findings also suggest that the empowerment activities have a positive influence on entrepreneurial spirit of youth and women cooperators.  Key words: Agricultural cooperatives, youth, women, performance, Eastern Cape.