Agricultural Cooperatives as Drivers of Enhancing Production and Marketing of Agricultural Produce: A Systematic Literature Review of Developing Countries

Abstract

Agricultural cooperatives serve as vital systems which play a role in boosting smallholder farming operations and their ability to access markets throughout developing nations. The systematic review analyzed studies from 2016 to 2025 which focused on cooperative organizations that improve agricultural production and marketing operations in 12 different countries including Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nepal, Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Mexico, Peru and Uganda. The study excluded studies focused on non-agricultural cooperatives and those conducted in developed countries because they do not apply to smallholder farming situations. Using a structured search and screening process based on PRISMA guidelines, 1,002 records were identified and 25 studies met the inclusion criteria. The qualitative synthesis reveals that cooperatives boost production through five main factors which include improved technical efficiency, better access to inputs, extension services, climate-smart technologies, organisational innovation and sector-specific productivity improvements in livestock and poultry systems. The marketing efforts of cooperatives generate various benefits which include enhanced operational efficiency and expanded market access and improved bargaining power and technological integration and member training that leads to better livelihoods and lower poverty rates. The review as a whole establishes that agricultural cooperatives function as key agents for smallholder farming development because they deliver both production and marketing benefits. The organization faces ongoing issues with its marketing activities and structural capabilities which require new solutions and improved leadership and supporting policy frameworks and infrastructure development.