Opportunities Performance and Constraints of Coffee Farmers' Cooperative Unions in Ethiopia: The Case of Kafa Forest Coffee Farmers' Cooperative Union in Snnprs

No Thumbnail Available

Date

2007-07

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Addis Ababa University

Abstract

Due to the drastic decline of coffee prices in the world market, many smallholder farmers in Ethiopia switched to growing khat (chat), and some others cut the trees giving shade to the coffee plants to produce fuel wood. To reverse the catastrophe, export targeted coffee jilrmers' cooperative unions were established. This study attempts to assess the opportunities and examine the performance and constraints of Coffee Farmers' Cooperative Unions in Ethiopia by taking the case of KFCU in Kafa zone of the SNNP RS. Four cooperatives were purposively selected out of twenty-six primary cooperatives that constitute the KFCU The study employed combinations of qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection to generate relevant information. The findings of the study showed that due to the constraints it encountered, the union is not able to exploit the opportunities and thus ends up with the low level of performance. The study argues that in a hastily established cooperative society like the KFCU where the basic principles of cooperative are not ingrained, the opportunities presented are rhetorical articulations. In line with this, it was indicated that, among others, lack of education and training, lack of democratic control which is manifested by external interference and weak organizational strength are the impediments to the union's activities. The study concluded that low level of performance shall not lead to abandon the union but save it through a closer examination of those causes of failure. It further emphasized, despite the failures of many cooperatives, one should not forget that there are also many success stories both in the North and in the South. It is thus recommended that, among others, launching education and training programs, avoiding external interference and enhancing legitimate government support, establishing an independent Advisory Board to the Union's Board of Management are the gateways to future success.

Description

Keywords

Coffee Farmers'

Citation