Understanding the criteria for successful community based co-operatives – the case for co-operative schemes as a vehicle for successful land reform in agriculture.

Abstract

This research explores and describes the factors applicable to the success of community-based co-operative ventures in a land reform context. Its theory-base is rooted in entrepreneurship with useful additions gleaned from the experiences of co-operative ventures in South Africa and internationally. It makes use of a purposeful and snowballing sampling strategy to conduct qualitative research. Data were analysed using descriptive analysis and an open inductive approach. Triangulation of results was achieved through in-depth focus group interviews, background depth through secondary research and literature control making use of specific research objectives. The results suggest that a co-operative setting can identify, nurture and expand entrepreneurship. It observes that co-operative schemes can provide the means to substitute for and leverage the external institutional environment that co-operative schemes in a land reform context typically find themselves in. It offers new perspectives on how the interaction of elements affecting the success of co-operative ventures in a land reform context should be analysed. Further research is suggested to test these results.