| Abstract: | 18
Abstract
The study was conducted to the main objective of assessing the opportunities and
challenges of multi-purpose cooperatives and their role in poverty reduction. The study
was conducted in Northern Ethiopia Amhara regional state in Dangila district. Using
random sampling three primary multi-purpose farmer’s cooperatives were selected. The
three cooperatives that the researchers selected were Affessa, Gumedri and Zeguda
primary multi-purpose cooperatives. From the three samples 156 questionnaires have
been administered and key informants interviewed and focus group discussion was
conducted. These means 52 respondents from each sample cooperatives members were
taken from the survey.
In the study in general an attempt was made to see their performance in providing
input, Output market, in diversification activities, provision of credit and loan, capital
accumulation, employment creation, and governance of cooperatives.
The result from the study indicate that, multi-purpose cooperatives were played a
central role in providing agricultural input (fertilizers improved seeds, pesticides, etc).
The economic and political situation was also supportive for the cooperatives
development in the study area. However all cooperatives in study area cannot utilize
these opportunities properly.
Besides cooperative were failing structural, operational, managerial problems, low
members participation due to inadequately addressing of their needs and problems by
their organization, lack of capital, poor performance regarding employment creation
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and marketing output, limited access to technology and infrastructure were also other
challenges faced.
All this limitations were mainly caused due to lack of qualified, visionary and committed
leadership and low participation of members in various affairs of cooperative .where as in
order
to strengthen the cooperative to play significant role in poverty reduction, coordination
and strong support from government and any considered body is essential. |
