Abstract
Potential borrowers' demand for credit is restrained by agricultural risk, while microfinance institutions favor male over female farmers because the latter have no collateral. We investigate whether women's membership in cooperatives facilitates access to credit. Primary data from Kenya were used. Descriptive statistics, propensity score matching, and probit regression methods were applied. The results show that 78 % of the respondents did not apply for credit mostly because of high interest rates and being risk-averse; while 60 % of those denied credit were due to lack of collateral. The estimates indicate that joining cooperatives increases the probability of female farmers' access to credit; transparency in cooperatives' financial activities increases the probability of accessing credit by 72 %. Given the core role of cooperatives, there is a need for a favorable environment in which cooperatives can form, develop, and thrive. Cooperatives need support from the government and development agencies to buffer their financial and management capacities and skills training. Subsequently bolstering women farmers' participation in cooperatives.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Journal of Agriculture and Food Research |
Volume | 18 |
ISSN | 2666-1543 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 18 Sept 2024 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Fields of Science
- 512 Business and Management
- Access to credit, Cooperatives
- 415 Other agricultural sciences
- Women farmers, Rural Kenya