Empowering farmers through agricultural cooperatives: a bibliometric analysis and systematic review (2010–2025)

Agricultural cooperatives play a pivotal role in advancing rural development and farmer empowerment, yet existing research remains fragmented across governance, participation, and policy domains. This study maps and synthesises 410 journal articles published between 2010 and 2025 using bibliometric analysis and systematic review under the PRISMA 2020 framework. Dependence on English‑language WoS/Scopus records risks overlooking locally indexed research. Of these, 67 articles were selected for detailed cluster analysis. The findings show rapid growth in publications over the past decade, with research concentrated in China and Europe but increasingly extending to the Global South. Seven thematic clusters are identified, revealing that cooperative empowerment operates through two organisational mechanisms – internal governance (property rights, information, accountability, distribution) and participatory governance (trust, networks, representation). These mechanisms interact through three pathways: digital and technology adoption, cooperative networks and market entry, and membership and policy instruments, which collectively influence economic, social, behavioural, and cognitive outcomes. However, governance imbalance or inadequate policy support can lead to dependency and marginalisation. The study contributes an integrative conceptual framework linking governance structures with empowerment outcomes and outlines a future research agenda to guide comparative and policy-oriented studies.