Abstract Farmer participation in agricultural co-operatives is the cornerstone of agricultural development and rural economic sustainability, particularly in developing economies where farmers face challenges in accessing markets, credit, and technical support. However, the dynamics of farmer participation and patronage in co-operative services remain a critical area of study. This study examined the co-operative and farmer factors influencing participation in five co-operative services, including farm input supplies, marketing, training, savings, and financial lending. Primary data were obtained from 433 member farmers of primary agricultural co-operative societies in Northern Uganda. Results indicate that only 18% of members participated across the five services. Comparative analysis shows that older and larger co-operatives with fewer women and youthful members attracted more participation in inputs, marketing, and training. The Heckman results indicate that co-operative charges, youth ratio, technical staffing, and membership with other groups negatively impacted participation, while shareholding, member satisfaction, and leadership roles had a positive influence. Contrastingly, co-operative affiliation, age and size, female ratio, record keeping, and infrastructure had a divergent effect on participation. Given the low and uneven patronage of co-operative services, we recommend that co-operatives adopt demand-driven services, leverage external networks for infrastructure, review equity charges, and customize programs to better engage diverse member profiles, including women and youth. Moreover, participatory and inclusive approaches are vital to tailor interventions that address the distinct needs instead of blanket interventions. This would enhance member participation and utilization of co-operative services, ultimately contributing to the sustainability of agricultural co-operatives and rural development.
Ong’ayo et al. (Tue,) studied this question.