Posted by Chester Morton / Tuesday 3 January 2017 / No comments
The features of a co-operative system of farming
Definition a co-operative farm
Co-operative farming can be defined as an association of like
minded farmers with the sole aim of pooling their resources together for
agricultural production. Membership is voluntary and the idea is to help each
other since they all individually have very limited resources to start with.
FEATURES
Membership is voluntary
One of the main features of co-operative farming is that
membership of the group is voluntary. No member is coerced to become a member.
Also the members have the right to leave the group once they have fulfilled all
the requirements laid down for exiting and ensuring that most especially they
do not owe any monies to the group.
It has a Board of Directors that is charged with the responsibility
of running the affairs of the society. The board is elected on the principle of
one man one vote. In other words, each member of the society has only one vote,
irrespective of his or her contribution to the society.
Established to provide service
Another feature of a co-operative farming enterprise is that
it is not established mainly to make profit. Its main aim is to provide
services to its members. Services include tractor services to plough their
land, planters to plant seeds on the fields and mainly helping to acquire tools
and services that would otherwise have been difficult to acquire as
individuals. It does not however mean they do not make any profits at all, just
that it is not the primary aim of the co-operative society.
No restriction on membership
Another feature of co-operative farming is that membership is
not restricted to any group of people. It is opened to all and sundry irrespective
of the one’s status, sex, religion or level of education.
Requires registration
The laws of many countries require co-operative farming societies
to be legally registered according to the laws of the land. The laws of the
land have laid down rules and regulations regarding registration and operation
of such groups. In other words, there is a level of state control.
It is a legal entity
A co-operative farming society is a legal entity. In other
words, it has the ability to sue and also to be sued. It can decide which
assets to buy and when to hold onto such assets or to dispose of them.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. What are the features of a co-operative farming group?
2. Highlight six features of a co-operative farming society.
