Building trust in rural producer organizations: results from a randomized controlled trial

Trust is considered an important factor for successful collective action in groups of smallholder farmers. A prime example commercialization agricultural produce through producer organizations. While previous research has focused on trust as exogenous determinant participation groups, this article tests whether within existing can be improved using a training program. We conduct cluster-randomized controlled trial rural Senegal to identify the effects members and/or leaders with respect intragroup trust. Our design allows identifying both direct treatment having participated and spillover farmers who did not partake. Looking at different measures leaders’ competence motives members, we find that participating significantly enhances members. For leaders, also strong effect. findings suggest relatively soft noncostly interventions such group appear positively affect