An Economic Analysis of the Impact of Cooperative Farming on Small Farmers' Income and the Sustainability of Agricultural Production

Hussein, Norhan Y. A.

doi:10.21608/alexja.2025.372785.1135

An Economic Analysis of the Impact of Cooperative Farming on Small Farmers' Income and the Sustainability of Agricultural Production "تحليل اقتصادي لتأثير الزراعة التعاونية علي دخل المزارعين الصغار واستدامة الانتاج الزراعي"

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Norhan Y. A. Hussein

Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Egypt

10.21608/alexja.2025.372785.1135

Abstract

This study dealt with the impact of cooperative agriculture on the income of small farmers and the sustainability of agricultural production, where the descriptive analytical method was used to achieve the research objectives. The data was collected through a survey that targeted 179 experts in agricultural economics, with a response rate of 81.97%. The study found that cooperative agriculture, in its various dimensions (farmer participation, cooperative services, cooperative growth), positively affects the sustainability of agricultural production by adopting practices such as the use of modern irrigation, organic fertilization, and crop rotation. The results also showed that the sustainability of agricultural production acts as an intermediate variable that enhances the impact of cooperative agriculture on farmers' income, leading to increased production, improved average income, and reduced costs. The results confirmed the validity of the assumptions put forward, as it was found that the participation of farmers and cooperative services has a direct impact on increasing income, while the growth of cooperatives contributes to improving productivity. The sustainability of agricultural production has also been shown to play a pivotal role in enhancing the positive impact of cooperative agriculture on the economic situation of farmersز

Keywords