Analysis of the development process of collective innovativeness: Case of the regional union of market garden producers' cooperatives of Atacora-Donga in northern Benin

The present work analyzes the development of the collective innovativeness process. It addresses and clarifies the notions of development project and farmers' organizations, of collective innovativeness through a sociological approach and highlights the logic of the so-called professionalization programs, as well as the organizational dynamics of the URCooPMa. The study is based on observational data on the organizational dynamics of the URCooPMa as well as on the monitoring of project initiatives in support of farmers' organizations and agricultural sectors. The data collected also includes a survey of the 13 Communal Unions of Vegetable Producers' Cooperatives operating in the 13 communes of Atacora-Donga. These surveys made it possible to conduct group interviews with 42 farmers from the URCooPMa and its branches, and in particular to have more in-depth discussions with 7 URCooPMa officials on the various innovations adopted by the union.