ArticleTropical animal health and production2025
Assessing the structure, conduct, and performance of dairy cooperatives: insights into smallholder market participation and productivity in emerging dairy systems.
Article in Tropical animal health and production, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
This study applies the Structure-Conduct-Performance (SCP) framework to examine how cooperative market structures influence organizational conduct and performance in five Milk Collection Centers (MCCs) in Zimbabwe. A mixed-methods design was used to gather primary data from 20 purposively selected smallholder dairy farmers using semi-structured questionnaires, five focus group discussions (FGDs), and five key informant interviews (KIIs) with MCC management. Secondary data from MCC records (milk volumes, pricing, and financials) were also analyzed. Quantitative data from the questionnaires were summarized using descriptive statistics in Excel, while qualitative data from KIIs and FGDs were thematically analyzed through manual coding to extract dominant patterns related to governance, services, and pricing behavior. The analysis focused on three SCP dimensions: market structure (e.g., buyer concentration, entry barriers), cooperative conduct (e.g., pricing systems, payment regularity, service provision), and performance (e.g., member participation, milk volumes, and marketing margins). Results show that MCCs operating under formal processor-linked channels offer predictable pricing and embedded services, which enhance farmer retention. In contrast, MCCs dependent on informal retail markets struggle with price volatility and irregular milk deliveries. Governance quality and institutional support emerged as key factors shaping cooperative performance across all five cases. The study concludes that improving the structure and conduct of dairy cooperatives, particularly through clearer pricing frameworks and better service delivery, can enhance smallholder participation and market integration. The SCP framework proved effective in identifying leverage points for improving cooperative outcomes and can guide policymakers and practitioners in strengthening smallholder engagement in dairy value chains.
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