The Impact of Collective Action on Enhancing Crop Productivity: A Multimethod Analysis of Farmers' Groups in Morogoro District, Tanzania

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to assess the impact of collective action on smallholder farmers’ crop productivity. This study is guided by Collective Action Theory and Social Capital Theory which together insist on the necessity of collaboration among individuals to achieve common goals that may not be attainable individually. Cross-sectional design was applied whereby simple random and stratified sampling techniques were used to draw a sample of 204 respondents in which 102 were members and 102 were non-members in farmers’ groups. Data were collected through interview with questionnaires as the main instrument. Collected data were analysed using paired sample t-test, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), Difference-in-Differences (DiD), and Propensity Score Matching (PSM). The study found that average annual output of all crops produced by the farmers before joining farmers’ group was significantly different from that produced after joining farmers’ group (P <0.05).  Paired sample t-test results indicated the significant difference (p=0.05) farmers’ group members and non-members in crop production. SEM findings show significant positive coefficients for pineapple (β = 0.568), banana (β = 0.059), black pepper (β = 0.058), cinnamon (β = 0.021), cardamom (β = 0.026), and cloves (β = 0.033). PSM results show that demographic factors, income levels, and food security significantly influence participation in collective action initiatives with a common support range for propensity scores between 0.0571 and 0.9878. Furthermore, DiD results depict that there is significant difference (p=0.05) on crop productivity between members in farmers groups and non-members on pineapple, banana, black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom and clove crops. In conclusion, farmers’ group membership has a positive contribution on crop productivity in the study area. Government and other agricultural practitioners should put more effort to support registered farmers’ groups as it has great role in supporting smallholder farmers on crop productivity. Policy interventions is needed to be emphasized on productivity issues, as it appeared to be one of the main barriers to expanding crop productivity.