| Abstract: | The main purpose of the study was to investigate the role of cooperatives in Agricultural Input Supply
System: The case of some selected kebeles in Lemuna Bibilo District Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. The
study delimited to the selected there Kebeles of Lemuna Bibilo District, Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia.
The study was delimited to Galema Farmers Cooperatives Union which was established in 2000 in
Bekoj’i town served as center of Lemuna Bibilo. Data were collected through questionnaire from 89
members of Galema cooperatives of the three Kebeles, namely, Bedi Aware, Dawa, Bursa and Tulu
Negeso. The members were selected through simple random sampling technique and the three
managerial bodies of the cooperatives were selected through purposive sampling technique to
participate in the interview. Descriptive research design and mixed-research method were employed.
Primary and secondary sources of data were used. The data gathering tools used in the study was
questionnaire, interview and plans and reports (documents). The quantitative data encoded in SPSS
Version 26, and the results were analysed through simple descriptive statistics, i.e., mean, frequency,
percentage, standard deviations etc. The qualitative data were analysed through thematic analyses.
As a result, it was found that cooperatives were potential suppliers of improved seeds, fertilizers and
agricultural equipment. As per the perceptions of the participants, agricultural cooperatives enhanced
social cohesion (score mean=3.84); improved the households economy (mean= 3.22); enabled to
learn members of the family (mean=3.45); enabled to pay health payments (mean=3.88) and played
a role to reduce unemployment among the HHS (mean= 3.76). Among the challenges that the
cooperatives faced were: lack of commitments followed by unfulfilled auditing and accounting
documents, uninteresting management bodies, weak relationship and coordination within and between
governmental and none-governmental organization working on cooperatives. On the other hand,
there were opportunities available for the enhancement of cooperatives. Among others, the focus of
government was on food security and self-sufficiency. Therefore, the researcher recommended that
cooperatives have to have commitments while carrying out their activities auditing their works is
essential. Furthermore, there must be periodic and consistent auditing members’ interests on
managements should be managed and there should also be strong and consistent relationship and
coordination within and between governmental and non-governmental organization working on
cooperatives |
