We are pleased to invite you to attend the dissertation thesis defence of Gospel Ayodele Iyioku with the title “Communication and Group Dynamics of Producer Cooperatives in Export-Oriented Value Chains: A Study of Cashew Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa” (Department of Food and BioResource Technology, Sustainable Rural Development). Come and learn about the factors influencing farmers’ participation in cooperatives in Africa and how the roles of trust, communication, and social structures differ between Kenya and Nigeria. Thesis defence will take place on 15th May 2026, 01:00 p.m., meeting room 313 (building FTZ).
This thesis examines the determinants of cashew farmers’ participation in agricultural cooperatives within export-oriented value chains in Sub-Saharan Africa, using Kenya and Nigeria as selected case studies. It investigates how farm and household factors, institutional factors such as social capital and communication, and psychological factors influence farmers’ intentions to engage in collective action. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining survey data from 570 farmers with Probit regression, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), and Chi-square analysis. The results show that education, formal access to agricultural information, and formal communication channels are key drivers of participation, while social structures and subjective norms shape engagement differently across the two contexts. In Kenya, trust-building through formal systems is critical, whereas in Nigeria, trusted individuals and existing social hierarchies play a key role. The study provides context-specific policy insights to strengthen cooperative effectiveness and promote inclusive rural development.
We warmly invite faculty members, students, and the public to join this defence.