Associativity index in coffee-growing organizations in the Cauca Department, Colombia

Abstract

In Colombia’s rural sector, collective action presents itself as a fundamental axis for generating shared benefits and mobilizing territorial resources. In this framework, associativity represents a key strategy for strengthening it, especially in small-scale coffee-growing scenarios. In the Cauca Department, where 99% of coffee growers are small producers organized mostly in associative models, it is a priority to understand how associativity is configured and expressed in their organizational structures. This research aimed to estimate and apply the associativity index to three coffee growers’ organizations (ASOMEDACS, FCC, and ASPROSI) in order to understand the particularities of their collective dynamics. The study was conducted from 2023 to 2024, using a multiple case design with a mixed approach. A structured survey was administered to 38 coffee-grower leaders, based on ten indicators validated by institutional actors in the sector. The analysis integrated a weighted composite index and statistical tools (Anova and Tukey’s HSD test). The results revealed significant differences among the organizations, with ASPROSI standing out with the highest index (76.41), indicating greater internal cohesion, a solid organizational structure and participatory links. These findings suggest that a higher index of associativity may reflect a greater organizational capacity to generate collective action. The proposed methodology offers a replicable and relevant tool for evaluating organizational processes in rural territories and proposes a future line of research on the relationship between associativity and resource activation within the framework of localized agrifood systems.