The role of collective action in leveraging farmers' performances: Lessons from sesame seed farmers' collaboration in eastern Chad

•Training and learning support is the main trigger to enhance farmer performances.•Production inputs and facilities have positive effects on farmer performances.•An improvement of the relational network can support farmer performances.

In recent decades, the role of farmers' associations in developing countries has been increasing due to a number of projects promoted by local and international governmental and non-governmental institutions and organizations. This paper analyses the effectiveness of collective action in enhancing farmers' market performances in terms of production quantity, production quality and profit. Specifically, the study points out the role of associations in leveraging smallholder market performance by providing learning, production and network support. In-depth interviews with local sesame value chain actors and a structural equation model based on a survey involving 97 farmers in East Chad are implemented. The farmers involved are part of the EU Project “Peanut and sesame food chain support: from production to marketing” led by a governmental organization. Results show that collective action supportive activities can effectively leverage farmers' market performances. Some policy implications for research and development organizations are finally discussed.