Farmer Organisation Membership and Livelihood Outcomes among Cocoa Farmers in Fako Division, Cameroon: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

Farmer organisations are widely promoted as institutional mechanisms for improving smallholder welfare, although evidence concerning their association with multidimensional livelihood outcomes among cocoa farmers in Cameroon remains limited. This study compared members and non-members of cocoa farmer organisations in Fako Division, South-West Region, Cameroon. Cross-sectional survey data were collected from 396 cocoa farmers, comprising 252 members and 144 non-members. Livelihood outcomes were assessed using a composite Sustainable Livelihood Outcomes Index covering income security, human capital, social capital, physical capital, natural capital, and resilience capacity. Independent-samples t-tests and effect-size estimates were used to compare the two groups. Members recorded a higher mean overall index score than non-members (0.71 versus 0.56), with a mean difference of 0.15, t(394) = 10.82, p < 0.001, and Cohen’s d = 1.13. Statistically significant differences were observed across all six dimensions, with the largest standardised differences in social capital, income security, and resilience capacity. Members also reported more farming experience, larger farms, higher cocoa yields, shorter distances to markets, and greater access to credit. However, these baseline differences and the voluntary nature of membership limit causal interpretation. The findings indicate a strong association between farmer organisation membership and improved livelihood outcomes. Strengthening organisational governance, extending services to underserved non-members, and applying longitudinal or quasi-experimental designs are recommended.