Kadhikwa, Wilikeni, Nampala2024-10-282024-10-282024-02Kadhikwa, W, N. (2024). An investigation into factors affecting the sustainability of agricultural cooperatives in Namibia: A case study of Onghalulu farmers' cooperative, Ohangwena region, Namibia [Master's thesis]. Namibia University of Science and Technology.http://hdl.handle.net/10628/1043The aim of the study was to investigate factors affecting the sustainability of agricultural cooperatives in Namibia, with the Onghalulu Farmers’ Cooperative being a case study. The study addressed external and internal factors that primarily affect the sustainability of agricultural cooperatives in Namibia and that of the Onghalulu Farmers’ Cooperative specifically. The problems identified in the study include those related to the market, finances, collaboration, governance, leadership, stakeholder engagement, environmental factors, compliance, mentorship and training programmes, infrastructure development, adoption of advanced technology, investments in research and development, and other issues influencing the sustainability of agricultural cooperatives in Namibia. The study noted that the emphasised problems still plague some Namibian agricultural cooperatives, primarily due to cooperative stakeholders' poor commitment to resolving the issues that they face and their resistance to accepting change. Moreover, some traditional beliefs hinder the commercial operations of agricultural cooperatives, as well as their capacity to follow rules and regulations, and the cooperatives' continued dependence on government support and donors. Additionally, due to the lack of political will, the government regularly allocates insufficient funds for agricultural projects that support cooperative initiatives, thereby financially starving the sector. In addition, climate change continuously impacts cooperative farmers' productivity, and as a result, the marginalised community members, youth, and women are underrepresented in cooperative initiatives. Using a case study design and a qualitative research methodology, the study collected primary data from 15 participants using open-ended questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. A purposive sampling method was used to choose participants as cases with rich and thorough insights about the study constructs. The study was guided by a theoretical framework including collective action and signalling theory to highlight cooperative principles, environmental sustainability governance (ESG), and economic sustainability performance (ESP). The study findings revealed that Onghalulu Farmers’ Cooperative practices mixed farming, combining agribusiness with different farming activities. It was found that some internal and external factors impact Namibia's agricultural cooperative’s survival ability. Besides, it was determined that efficiently run agricultural cooperatives improve members' quality of life and significantly advance the sustainable growth of the cooperative. The study offered some recommendations to minimise the obstacles identified and enhance the sustainability of agricultural cooperatives in Namibia. As such, the study findings enrich the existing literature about agricultural cooperatives and provide valuable information to cooperative stakeholders about supporting the resilience and sustainability of agricultural cooperatives in Namibia.enThesis