Performance of agricultural cooperatives led by women in Viet Nam

Abstract

Vietnamese women are equal with men in participating in economic activities, including in agricultural cooperatives. The government has also issued quite a few support policies to facilitate women and cooperatives start-up. This study analyses women's participation in the management and administration of cooperatives as well as the size, operation and performance of women-led cooperatives compared with men-led cooperatives. Based on the survey data of 271 agricultural cooperatives conducted in 2021, the analysis shows that women are involved in the leadership of agricultural cooperatives but at a lower rate than men. The study shows that women-led cooperatives have fewer members and a higher ratio of equity to total asset value. The study also shows that there is no statistically significant difference between women-led cooperatives and men-led cooperatives in terms of business operation, performance and benefits of state support policies.