Acceso usuarios
Jorge Luis Sánchez Navarro
, Erasmo Isidro López Becerra, Miguel Hernández Espallardo, Narciso Arcas Lario 
Las cooperativas agroalimentarias son fundamentales en la cohesión social de las zonas rurales, donde se concentran mayormente. Estas organizaciones no solo aumentan la competitividad de las explotaciones de sus socios, sino que también generan riqueza y empleo, ayudando a fijar población y combatir el despoblamiento rural. Este estudio analiza los factores que influyen en la decisión de los productores agrarios murcianos de ser o no socios de cooperativas. Para ello, se emplea un modelo de regresión Probit, basado en datos de una encuesta a 225 productores agrarios de la Región de Murcia, socios y no socios de cooperativas. Los resultados muestran que la dependencia económica del hogar en la agricultura, la preferencia por relaciones comerciales duraderas y la especialización en aceite o productos lácteos incrementan la probabilidad de pertenencia a una cooperativa. En cambio, la disponibilidad de alternativas de comercialización y una mayor aversión al riesgo la reducen. Este análisis aporta información valiosa para los gestores de cooperativas, organizaciones sectoriales y administraciones, al ofrecer un perfil de los productores agrarios que facilita el diseño de estrategias para captar socios y consolidar los existentes.
Agri-food cooperatives play a crucial role in fostering social cohesion in rural areas, where they are predominantly concentrated. They not only enhance the competitiveness of their members’ agricultural enterprises but also generate wealth and employment, contributing to population retention and, consequently, combating rural depopulation. In this context, understanding the factors that drive farmers and livestock producers to join these cooperatives is essential for promoting their integration.
The aim of this study is to analyze the distinguishing characteristics between agricultural producers who are members of agri-food cooperatives and those who are not, as well as the specific features of their farms. A Probit regression model was estimated based on data collected through a survey of 225 farmers and livestock producers in the Region of Murcia, both cooperative members and non-members.
The results show that economic dependence of the family on agriculture, a preference for establishing long-term commercial relationships, and specialization in olive oil or dairy production increase the likelihood of being a cooperative member. In contrast, the availability of alternative marketing options and a higher risk aversion are associated with a lower probability of membership.
This analysis provides valuable insights for cooperative managers, sectoral organizations, and public administrations by offering a detailed profile of agricultural producers, which can assist in designing strategies to attract new members and retain existing ones.
