Hi all,
Here is today’s aggregated input on question "1.2.
Could you provide specific examples of the advantages and/or disadvantages of cooperation among small farms?”
(From the moderator: Some of these inputs refer to the general question of why “cooperation among small farms works or does not work” - for further input we would love to hear other specific examples on the advantages
or disadvantages of cooperation between farmers: where in your region, has it worked or did not work...)
Formal system of cooperative do not work in certain parts of western Nigeria.
Agrarian communities in Ogun State, where lots of their farmers are migrants from the middle belt, (we) experience (a) non-cooperation in their communal farming.
Often times, a cluster of 10-12 farmers come together to assist each other in the manual labour at the onset of rains. in many instances, these activities end up with some farmers losing out in cultivation at the earliest time; especially those ones
at the lower and of the scheduled list.
Also many a times, conflicts arise in the quality of food that a particular farmer serves (to) his fellows assisting him in his farmland. Or sometimes the quality of service rendered by a certain individual in the cluster may not be pleasing to the
farm owner, therefore, he seeks a way to retaliate when it gets to the turn of his “offender" to get his farm worked upon.
Sometimes also, some farmers fail to show up in their cluster group member's farm land as soon as their own lands has been worked on the ground of flimsy excuses without any effort to getting someone to stand in for them, or they coming at their own
convenient time to do their own portion.
Cooperatives as a collection of different farmers with equal rights and say, in all matters affecting the cooperative, can work.
However, in some developing countries cooperatives are established by individuals as a business model for their personal aims.
Where a person (or persons) set up an entity and then invite (or compel) others to join, without allowing them equal acces to decision making process that will not work.
Advantages of cooperatives between small scale farmers, is basically "the numbers" as there is strength in numbers and possibility of having a common ground to make their case known and there voice heard.
Advantages of Non State formed Cooperatives, is the ability to use the right persons and the capacity to innovate and freedom in decision taking. Also there could be opportunities to share experiences, Knowledge and expertise. This could lead to proper
mentoring and development.
Advantages of State formed cooperative is being able to use the state as an enabler to jump start or have easy aces to the State funds.
Disadvantages of State Formed Cooperatives: It is often not suitable and not durable (ed:sustainable): There are always square pegs in round holes and often times they are formed to achieve the governments political agenda. From all indications they
do not outlive the masters tenor or objective, and they are tools in the hands of "the masters for mischief" which are never focused on production, objectivity and goal delivery.
From this submission I am making a case against state owned or supported cooperatives.
I am Dilip Kumar, adviser, Bihar Animal Sciences University (BASU), Patna, Bihar, India
Formal associations like cooperatives are either non-functional or hijacked by local strongholds.
Highly advantages (of cooperation) for small farmers / farming households:
Purchase of machineries are beyond the capacity of small farmers and also uneconomical for small holdings. Under the situation when someone is able to manage (to get) credit they are able to use it economically when they provide services to neighbouring
farmers in (a) hiring basis. Similarly facilities like tube wells are also used for irrigating the farms from other farmers who are unable to install (these). Many farmers keep limited number of draught animals in such case when they have single one, they
cooperate with others to pair and use for tilling lands and also (for) transport.
Disadvantage is not an issue under cooperation, except for (the) annoying (fact that) some bigger farmers (can have) their interest and ego affected.
Co-operation projects reach private business goals but they also serve different public objectives like the improvement of local infrastructure, the provision of jobs and the enhancement of local purchasing power. It offers local peasants the opportunity
to sell their products and to continue farming which may lead to a reduction of fallow land and therefore increased the attractiveness of the region for the residents and tourists.
Most of the farmers perceive co-operation from the perspective of the producer but not as a stimulus to become more and better involved in the local rural development activities.