Education Preliminary to Cooperative Organization

Abstract

The first essential for a cooperative marketing association is the need for an association. This means that in the given district some definite economic function not now being performed by existing agencies could be accomplished by a cooperative marketing association; or that an economic activity now fulfilled by existing agencies could be more efficiently achieved through cooperation. Cooperatives are succeeding today in a permanent way only where such a condition existed. Some associations have failed because they have attempted to absorb duties which they later found they could not execute for less expense than have existing agencies. Cooperatives have been organized where a real need for a change of the marketing system existed, but there were other conditions which made it unwise to set up a cooperative organization. I firmly believe that a very high percentage of present-day lack of member support of our cooperative marketing associations is due to the fact that farmers have been organized into cooperative associations without having felt any necessity for such organization rather than having grouped themselves together to meet specific needs. This need should be one that is likely to continue over a period of years rather than one of a temporary nature. How then can a group of farmers determine for themselves whether or not a real need exists for a cooperative association? The following are some of the questions which should be asked and answered as a preliminary to the organization of an association.