Group Cohesion for Enhanced Operation of Agricultural Community-Based Projects in Gauteng Province, South Africa

Taruvinga, B. and Ndou, P. and Plooy, C. P. du and Mphafi, K. and Hlerema, I. N. and Seturumane, R. (2021) Group Cohesion for Enhanced Operation of Agricultural Community-Based Projects in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Journal of Agricultural Science, 13 (5). p. 161. ISSN 1916-9752

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Abstract

Collective operation of smallholder farmers and cooperatives has been attributed to many mishaps and malfunctions. Such knowledge creates misperceptions regarding agricultural cooperatives and their usefulness in development. This study investigated member commitment, group cohesion and membership retention in agricultural production cooperatives. The main aim was to identify possible practical measures for enhanced performance and increased sustainability in farmer organizations. Data was collected from 92 participants that were currently operating as cooperative members. A combination of descriptive statistics, Perceived Cohesion (PC) and Binary Logistic Regression methods were employed for analysis. Results of the study indicate that group cohesion is influenced by trust among members, internal communication, financial performance of the cooperative, involvement of members in decision making, and role of the organization in the community. Strategies for increased group cohesion that were recommended in the study include information sharing and transparency at all levels of operation, and collective decision making and planning in organizations.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: Science Global Plos > Agricultural and Food Science
Depositing User: Unnamed user with email support@science.globalplos.com
Date Deposited: 06 May 2023 10:06
Last Modified: 31 Jan 2024 04:29
URI: http://ebooks.manu2sent.com/id/eprint/786

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