Exploring the Mechanisms of Rural Cooperatives’ Roles in the Commercialization of Home-Based Products and the Development of Market-Oriented Businesses among Rural Women (Case Study: Sarab Kalan Village)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Samieh Tashvighi ¹

Zahra Mirhosseini ²

Hossein Aghajani Mersa ¹

¹ CT. C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

² Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.

10.22067/jrrp.v15i4.2609-1187

Abstract

Purpose- Although previous studies have examined rural women’s entrepreneurship, rural development, and the general functions of cooperatives, less attention has been paid to the specific mechanisms through which cooperatives can transform dispersed home-based production into sustainable, market-oriented economic activities. This study addresses this gap by developing an integrated framework that links product value enhancement, supply chain organization, market identity, sales-network development, and women’s capacity for business growth.
Design/methodology/approach- An applied mixed-methods design with a sequential exploratory strategy was employed. First, qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews and open-ended questionnaires and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The identified components were then validated and refined through three rounds of the Delphi technique involving 24 experts in rural cooperatives, women’s entrepreneurship, rural development, business management, and marketing. Subsequently, a quantitative questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale was used to assess and prioritize the identified mechanisms. Descriptive statistics, including means and standard deviations, and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance were used to analyze the quantitative data.
Findings- The findings identified five major mechanisms through which rural cooperatives can support the commercialization of rural women’s home-based products: (1) product value enhancement and re-creation, (2) supply chain organization, (3) development of market identity and credibility, (4) strategic and smart linkage to sales networks, and (5) empowerment for business growth and scalability. The Delphi process reached a high level of agreement among experts, with Kendall’s coefficient of concordance equal to 0.81. The quantitative assessment further supported the importance of the identified mechanisms, with an overall mean of 4.43 (SD = 0.66) across the 24 indicators.
Practical implications- The findings suggest that cooperatives should provide integrated support throughout the product value chain rather than focusing solely on production. Such support should include product innovation and quality improvement, branding and packaging, access to physical and digital marketing and sales channels, sustainable market connections, business networking, and targeted training in managerial, marketing, and commercial capabilities.
Originality/value: The study contributes to the literature by moving beyond a general assessment of the functions of rural cooperatives and identifying specific mechanisms through which they can facilitate the commercialization of home-based products. By combining qualitative content analysis, Delphi validation, and quantitative prioritization, the study provides a context-specific and integrated framework for understanding the intermediary role of rural cooperatives in connecting rural women’s home-based production with market-oriented business development.

Keywords

Rural Cooperatives, Women’s Entrepreneurship, Commercialization of Home-Based Products, Market-Oriented Businesses, Value Chain, Rural Development.

Subjects

• Rural Studies

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