Analysis of member-cooperative relationships in the agricultural development cooperatives in Samsun province of Turkey

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between agricultural development cooperatives in Samsun province and their members and to determine effective factors. The main materials of this study are collected through surveys conducted with 9 cooperatives and 89 members randomly selected among the cooperatives. The factors affecting the level of cooperative-members relationship were analyzed by using Ordered Probit Model. Model results show that while the agricultural experience, membership duration and reading 1163 Law of Cooperatives had positive effects on the relationship between the member-cooperatives, age had a negative effect. In order to strength the relationship between the cooperatives and their members, project encouraging young farmers should be organized and the members should be educated about laws and regulations of cooperatives.