Bankable receipts or broken signals? Cooperative credibility, service reliability and access to warehouse receipt system-backed credit among cashew smallholders in Tanzania

Purpose Access to agricultural credit remains a critical constraint for smallholder commercialization in developing economies. This study examines how cooperative credibility and service reliability influence access to Warehouse Receipt System (WRS)-backed credit among cashew smallholders in Tanzania. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-methods design was employed using cross-sectional survey data from 200 cashew-producing households in Tandahimba District, Tanzania. Binary logistic regression was used to estimate the factors associated with access to WRS-backed credit. Qualitative evidence from key informant interviews and focus group discussions was used to interpret institutional and behavioural mechanisms underlying the observed quantitative patterns. Findings The results show that access to WRS-backed credit is positively associated with confidence in cooperative auditing, accurate documentation, and timely payment of produce. Perceived service risks reduce the likelihood of credit access. The findings suggest that, beyond the availability of financial products, the credibility of cooperative governance and the reliability of service delivery play a decisive role in shaping farmer participation on WRS-backed credit. Research limitations/implications The study is based on cross-sectional data from one cashew-producing district, which limits causal inference and generalization to other commodity systems. Future research could extend the analysis using panel data and comparative studies across different warehouse receipt commodities. Social implications Improved access to WRS-backed credit can enhance smallholder livelihoods by easing seasonal liquidity constraints, stabilising incomes, and reducing reliance on informal lenders. Strengthening cooperative credibility and service reliability promotes trust, transparency, and collective action within rural communities. Clearer documentation and timely payments can also improve inclusiveness by lowering barriers for less-resourced farmers, including women and youth. By supporting more equitable participation in agricultural markets, effective WRS implementation contributes to poverty reduction, resilience to price volatility, and broader rural development outcomes in smallholder-based economies. Originality/value The study contributes to the agribusiness and agricultural finance literature by demonstrating how institutional credibility and operational service reliability jointly shape access to warehouse receipt–based credit in cooperative-mediated commodity systems in developing economies.