Analysis of Smallholder Farmers’ Cooperation in Eucalyptus Woodlot Production in Wegera District, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

In Ethiopia, cooperation among smallholder famers’ is a key element for managing and harvesting of agricultural crops and woodlot production. Despite the growing expansion and interest in eucalyptus woodlot production, not much has been done to characterize the type, form and level of cooperation among the smallholder farmers. Thus, this study analyses smallholder farmers’ cooperation on eucalyptus woodlot production in Wegera district, northern Ethiopia. Data collection involved focus group discussions, field observations, key informant interviews and semi-structured questionnaires administered to 120 producers selected using a systematic random sampling technique in three purposively selected kebeles (rural villages). A combination of data analysis methods, including descriptive statistics and econometric analysis (binary probit model), were used to analyze the data. The study revealed that two types of cooperation, informal and formal were identified and the level of cooperation was high since most smallholder farmers (80.8%) were found to participate in one or both of these systems. Further, the binary probit model shows that age (p = 0.007), family size (p = 0.026), membership status (p = 0.001), total livestock number (p = 0.011), woodlot size (p = 0.039), and working preference status of producers (p = 0.064) were significant variables in determining eucalyptus owners, decisions to cooperate. Informal cooperation constitutes an essential element in the production of eucalyptus woodlots especially in those activities like nursery preparation, transplanting, hoeing, harvesting and transporting. Based on the findings, formalization of informal institutions, execution of cluster planting to improve social relations and to settle eucalyptus related land use conflicts, and provide capacity building training to increase the level of awareness and use of cooperation benefits among producers are recommended.