Socioeconomic Impact of Agricultural Cooperatives in Morocco: A Statistical Case Study of the Taytmatine Women’s Cooperative

Abstract

Introduction: This study examines the socioeconomic contributions of agricultural cooperatives to rural development in Morocco, with a specific focus on the Titmatine Women’s Cooperative operating in the dried fruit sector. Drawing on primary survey data from 19 cooperative members, the analysis explores changes in household income, savings capacity, access to financial services, and participation in training programs before and after cooperative membership. Descriptive statistics reveal substantial improvements in members’ monthly income and savings levels, while inferential tests confirm statistically significant increases in both economic and capacity-building dimensions. Specifically, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test demonstrates a marked rise in household income, and McNemar’s test highlights significant gains in access to credit and training opportunities. These findings suggest that cooperative membership not only strengthens women’s financial autonomy but also fosters broader social inclusion by improving access to markets and knowledge resources. Although the small sample size limits generalizability, the results underscore the pivotal role of agricultural cooperatives in enhancing the livelihoods and resilience of rural women in Morocco.