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Agricultural Cooperatives’ Sustainability and the Relevance of Start-Up Support Programs: Evidence from Cooperatives’ Level in Morocco

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  • Aomar Ibourk

    (Laboratoire de Recherche en Economie Sociale et Solidaire, Gouvernance et Développement (LARESSGD), Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech 40000, Morocco
    African Institute for Research in Economics and Social Sciences (AIRESS), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Rabat 10112, Morocco
    Policy Center for the New South, Rabat 10112, Morocco)

  • Karim El Aynaoui

    (African Institute for Research in Economics and Social Sciences (AIRESS), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Rabat 10112, Morocco
    Policy Center for the New South, Rabat 10112, Morocco)

Abstract

The Moroccan agricultural cooperative sector is a key player in self-employment and income generation through territorial anchoring. The government’s “MOURAFAKA” program offers support for newly created cooperatives, including strategic diagnosis and training. This paper analyzes the impact of the MOURAFAKA program on the sustainability of agricultural cooperatives in Morocco. Using original data from a survey of 232 cooperatives and a second database of 1131 cooperatives, the study employs a methodology based on survival function analysis and Cox regression. The results show that the MOURAFAKA program improves the sustainability of agricultural cooperatives by strengthening their management, governance, and market access capabilities. The study also highlights the importance of internal factors such as management skills, leadership style, and cooperative size, as well as external factors such as strategic adaptability, in determining the sustainability of agricultural cooperatives. The policy implications of these findings suggest that upstream literacy programs and capacity-building initiatives for cooperative leaders, as well as downstream access to financing, marketing, and practical training, are crucial for ensuring the sustainability of cooperatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Aomar Ibourk & Karim El Aynaoui, 2023. "Agricultural Cooperatives’ Sustainability and the Relevance of Start-Up Support Programs: Evidence from Cooperatives’ Level in Morocco," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:4:p:3460-:d:1067621
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