Development Of Agricultural Cooperatives Research Articles

Cooperation of small and medium in agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan

The process of uniting small and medium-sized businesses in the agro-industrial complex into agricultural cooperatives is very relevant for the Republic of Kazakhstan, given the small-scale nature of agricultural production and the high share of households in the total volume of agricultural production. gross agricultural output and, accordingly, low labor productivity in agriculture. The purpose of the study is to study the development of agricultural cooperation in Kazakhstan and identify problems hindering the development of the cooperative movement, and suggest directions for further development in the field of cooperation in the country. To study processes and phenomena in the field of organizational and economic relations, various methods were used, such as analysis and synthesis, the use of systematic and logical approaches to the study of trends in the development of agricultural cooperation. The essence of the efficiency of cooperative formations functioning is formulated. The world and domestic experience of agricultural cooperation development has been studied, which allowed to identify the main prerequisites for the development of small and medium-sized business in the agro-industrial complex of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The article presents existing problems that impede their development, and in conclusion, the authors offer recommendations on measures of state regulation and support for the development of agricultural cooperation in the Republic of Kazakhstan. It is necessary, first of all, to direct efforts to the development of production cooperation of small and medium-sized farms, which have the opportunity to organize joint production of agricultural products, use of land resources, agricultural machinery, and introduce advanced growing technologies. agricultural products in order to preserve the fertility of agricultural land and use a unified scientifically based crop rotation system. All this will ultimately increase the volume of agricultural production, animal productivity, increase crop yields and labor productivity.

Multiple roles of agricultural cooperatives in improving farm technical efficiency: A case study of rural Gansu, China

AbstractThe establishment of agricultural cooperatives is widely viewed as an institutional arrangement to remove constraints that prevent smallholders from accessing profitable business opportunities in agriculture. Agricultural cooperatives in China offer a wide range of services within the framework of contract farming and vertical integration. This study empirically examines the multiple roles of China's cooperatives in improving farm production efficiency and conserving the agricultural environment. Considering that agricultural cooperatives' services can be broadly divided into biological and machinery services, we specify a stochastic frontier production function in a special form, called the separated Cobb–Douglas. The empirical results present clear evidence that Chinese agricultural cooperatives play essential roles in increasing biochemical technical efficiency and protecting the agroecological environment. However, the involvement of cooperatives as vertical integrators is demonstrated to have a detrimental effect on biochemical technical efficiency. The pressing challenge for agricultural cooperative development in China is to accommodate the conflicting consequences that their entry into farming has on biochemical and machinery technical efficiencies. This has strong policy implications, although our study has certain limitations in terms of the narrow focus on a single specific region. [EconLit Citations: C26, Q12, Q13, Q15, Q18].

Impact of Agricultural Cooperatives on Farmers’ Collective Action: A Study Based on the Socio-Ecological System Framework

Agricultural cooperatives greatly influence agricultural and rural modernization in China. Based on 381 farmer samples in the arid Tarim River Basin, this empirical study aimed to construct an index system for the exploration of the relationship between cooperatives and farmers’ collective action by using the Socio-Ecological System framework. The results showed that agricultural cooperatives helped to empower farmers to act collectively. Agricultural cooperatives, with the mechanisms of collective decision making, institutional constraints, and internal supervision, could realize the integration of resources required for farmers’ collective action and promote the sharing of risks and benefits. By providing financing support and a platform for resource integration, cooperatives could reduce constrains induced by economic difference among farmers; enhance village leadership, organization, and coordination; and promote the accumulation of social capital and villagers’ sense of identity with the village. Particularly, cooperatives could support farmers to adopt water-saving irrigation technologies and reduce their over-dependence on chemical pesticides and fertilizers, thus promoting farmers’ collective action. Therefore, the development of agricultural cooperatives will help enhance farmers’ collective action, promote the modernization of rural governance, and realize rural revitalization.

Study on the Effects of Sustainable International Agricultural Development Cooperation Project on Quality of Life

Study on the Effects of Sustainable International Agricultural Development Cooperation Project on Quality of Life

Sustainable Development of Agricultural Cooperation in Conditions of Economy Digitalization

Introduction: The key link in the agro-industrial complex is agriculture. Cooperation is assigned a unique role as a factor contributing to the sustainability of the agricultural sector. The article aims to study the trends in the development of agricultural cooperation in the context of the digitalization of the economy, and identify problematic elements of development and determine the development trend for the future.   Theoretical framework: The theoretical basis of the research was formed by the scientific works of leading domestic and foreign scientists on the considered research problem.   Methodology: The research used methods of analysis and synthesis of economic information, statistical data, an integrated and systematic approach to assessing economic phenomena. The research used literature review, data analysis and synthesis as key methods to analyze trends, identify problems and draw conclusions.   Results and Discussion: The article discusses the existing positive shifts in the agricultural sector and why they do not provide desired dynamic development of agricultural producers. It identifies problems that slow down integration into the digital ecosystem and discusses certain problems that do not allow to increase production efficiency.   Conclusion: The key factors in the development of agricultural cooperation are identified. Conditions necessary for further development of agricultural cooperation are outlined, including effective involvement of representatives in the digital ecosystem.

Optimizing the Development of Agricultural Cooperatives through Rukun Tetangga (RT) Based Design

Indonesia is a country based on strong family, friendly, mutual cooperation with a cooperative economic system. Demand for the agricultural sector is increasing because agricultural products are not only used as food, but also as feed, fuel and fiber. The conclusion from this service is that the Rukun Tetangga (RT) level as a basic step in establishing agricultural cooperatives cannot yet be used, so further model development and community conditioning is needed. Individual farming and renting agricultural land in the micro category. Agricultural facilities and infrastructure are not optimal and the costs of the production process (input) are greater than the income from agricultural products (output) which is small. Farmers' agricultural business organization is not yet optimal.

The historical aspects of the foundation and functioning of the agricultural cooperation in Ukraine

The article is devoted to the study of the foundation and functioning of the agricultural cooperation. The aim of the article is to analyze the historical development of the agricultural cooperation on the territory of Ukraine from ancient times to the present.
 The article reveals the main stages of the development of the agricultural cooperation, at each of which the peculiarities of its functioning are investigated.
 For the first time the concept of cooperation was implemented by the «Rochdale pioneers» in October 1844, while in Ukraine the starting point for the beginning of the cooperation activity is 1866, the year of approval of the Kharkiv Consumer Society charter, that testifies to the long history of the cooperation on the territory of Ukraine and the presence of significant experience of the national cooperative movement. In order to resume the development of agricultural cooperation on July 21, 2020, was adopted a new edition of the Law of Ukraine «On Agricultural Cooperation», which developers of the legal act consider to be the «Constitution» of agricultural cooperation.
 In the course of the research, it was found that to date, in the modern science of agrarian law, insufficient attention is paid to the study of the historical aspects of the foundation and functioning of the agricultural cooperation, despite the fact that agricultural cooperation has a special social and economic significance for our state, and is an integral part of the national agrarian policy, which determines the relevance of the chosen research topic.
 The author concluded that the study of the historical experience of the foundation and functioning of the agricultural cooperation will contribute to the determination of the main guidelines for the modernization of the state agricultural policy at the current stage, the prevention of the repeated adoption of erroneous decisions, the elimination of factors that restrain the development of agricultural cooperation, and the provision of favorable conditions for the effective functioning of cooperative movement.
 The article is based on methods of synthesis and analysis, historical, formal and logical, as well as other general scientific and special research methods.

An overview of the development of agricultural cooperatives in Sudan over decades with special emphasis on Gum Arabic Producers’ Associations (GAPAs)

This paper aims to highlight the historical development of agricultural cooperatives in Sudan by examining Gum Arabic Producers’ Associations (GAPAs) as a case study. Using a systematic literature review approach, the article relied on desk research from relevant secondary sources. Past and current data on the GAPAs’ development were analyzed to present trends. While various forms of traditional cooperation in the agriculture sector exist in Sudan, the first formal attempt to establish cooperatives was undertaken in the 1920s. The development of the cooperative movement was strongly influenced by changing governmental policies during the different governmental eras. Political intervention, lack of finance, poor infrastructure and limited capacity of cooperative members and managers were major constraints that hindered the cooperative movement. GAPAs were first established in 1992 in North Kordofan State, and the model was scaled up in 2005 to the whole country. The main objective of GAPAs is to increase the production of gum Arabic, for example by reducing the members’ dependency on the traditional finance (Shail) system. However, GAPAs have faced the same constraints that also hindered other types of agricultural cooperatives. The government’s focus on primarily increasing the number of GAPAs and size of membership rather than improving their organizational capacity and quality of services to members has largely rendered the GAPAs ineffective. Therefore, the study recommends raising awareness among policymakers in Sudan for the problems GAPAs and other agricultural cooperatives currently face, as well as of local communities working in agriculture for the antecedents and benefits of collective action, which remains an urgent priority.

State support for the cooperative movement in the Republic of Kazakhstan

The study of formation and effective development of agricultural cooperatives in rural areas is of particular importance in the context of improving the legislative and legal mechanism for increasing the competitiveness of agricultural industry, effectiveness of mutually beneficial economic relations, and promotion of cooperative processes in agro-industrial production. The goal is to substantiate the need to optimize the system of state regulation and support for agricultural cooperation. Methods – analytical, monographic, comparison and generalization. Results show the problems that make it difficult to unite small forms of farming in rural areas: low labor productivity, limited access of farmers to technical and information resources and services, lack of modern equipment. The authors note that regulatory governance and oversight, financial support, advisory services and training are needed. Conclusions - cooperation of medium and small enterprises is the only opportunity to produce a modern and competitive product comparable in cost to the products of large agricultural producers. They are of great socioeconomic importance, since they provide employment to a significant number of villagers, contribute to their effective functioning in a market economy through the expansion of agricultural production, the growth of competitive potential, which facilitates entry into the market, ensuring the profitability of business entities, and allows solving issues of import substitution and development of the infrastructure of RS, improving the level and quality of life of the rural population. Such cooperatives adapt their operations to agricultural technological innovations in the use of fertilizers, growing crops and livestock, agricultural mechanization, and the use of new resource-saving energy sources and communication systems. Small farms united on cooperative principles can fully demonstrate their inherent advantages in the future.

Investigating the Impact and New Opportunities of Policy on the Development of Agricultural Cooperatives in China

The 31st session of the 12th National People's Congress Standing Committee passed the revised "Law of the People's Republic of China on Farmers' Professional Cooperatives" which came into effect on July 1, 2018. This law has introduced a series of supportive policies to promote the standardization and optimization of the cooperative environment. It has positive implications for the agricultural development in various provinces. This paper takes the cooperative as a unit of analysis, and explores the development of agriculture from both macro and micro perspectives in an integrated manner.

СОЦИАЛЬНЫЕ МОТИВЫ РАЗВИТИЯ СЕЛЬСКОХОЗЯЙСТВЕННОЙ КООПЕРАЦИИ

The emergence of new models of socially oriented cooperatives in the agrarian sector of the economy is a necessary condition for the realization of successful economic policy of the state, implemented in conditions of institutional tension. The cooperative movement in Russia has a unique multifaceted and at the same time complex character of functioning. With the powerful development of agricultural holdings, which act as the main drivers of agricultural production and export, small farmers face signifi cant problems in building a successful cooperative system. The purpose of the research, the results of which are presented in this article, is to develop a comprehensive approach to the study of social motives for the development of agricultural cooperation in the modern market environment in the context of its special role in the development of the agricultural industry, rural communities and rural areas. In the framework of this study, the factors constraining the development of cooperative associations were identifi ed, the model of values of new-type cooperatives was proposed, including the key role of leadership as the main driving force for the powerful development of agricultural cooperation. The factors of cooperative trust formation are identifi ed in order to increase motivation and encouragement to join these associations. The conclusions formulate the most signifi cant parameters of the new model of cooperative knowledge management, contributing to the sustainable development of the Russian cooperation in modern conditions, acceptable for its realization with the following parameters.

FOREIGN EXPERIENCE OF DEVELOPMENT AND LEGAL REGULATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL COOPERATION

The article is devoted to the study of development and legal regulation of the agricultural cooperation in foreign countries. Despite the adoption of the Law of Ukraine «On agricultural cooperation» in the new edition the development of agricultural cooperation continues to be restrained, that indicates the presence of shortcomings in the legislative base. The relevance of the chosen topic is determined by the fact that nowadays in the conditions of European integration Ukraine needs an urgent solution to solve the problem of modermizing the Ukrainian cooperative legislation, taking into account the world experience, which will ensure the development of Ukrainian agricultural cooperatives. This article highlights proposals for modernizing the Ukrainian cooperative legislation by using international experience. The positive experience of Georgia in the field of monitoring the activities of the agricultural cooperatives is proposed to be received by Ukraine. The need to pay attention to the issue of gender equality in the agricultural cooperatives using the example of the Kingdom of Spain is emphasized. The author’s concept of «the principle of gender equality and gender integration in the agricultural cooperative» is formed in the article, which is proposed to supplement the cooperative legislation of Ukraine in order to ensure the equality of women and men in the agricultural cooperatives. The article provides the main directions for achieving gender equality and gender integration in agricultural cooperatives (cooperatives). Several approaches or models of the legal regulation of the creation and activity of cooperatives in the world are singled out. The expediency of introducing a model of general legal regulation of the cooperation in Ukraine, which will be based on a single conceptual codified act – the cooperative code of Ukraine, is substantiated.

우간다 국제농업개발협력사업 지속가능성 영향 요인의 우선순위 분석

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the need for sustainability of international agricultural development cooperation projects and to provide implications on which factors affect the enhancement of project sustainability. Originality: This study is meaningful in that it compared and analyzed the factors that affect the sustainability of the project targeting experts in the donor country and the recipient country. As agriculture is important in Uganda, a priority partner country, it intends to provide direction in terms of securing the sustainability of international agricultural development cooperation projects.
 Methodology: After deriving the factors that affect the sustainability of international agricultural development cooperation project through previous studies, 15 experts in Korea and Uganda were surveyed and analyzed using AHP analysis.
 Result: In the top-factors, both donor and beneficiary countries showed the same priority.
 However, in the sub-factors, there showed a difference between the two countries, as donor countries say “Market development is more important than production technology and quality management,” and beneficiary countries say “Production technology and quality management are more important than market development”. In addition, donor country were found to have a lower priority in ‘ownership’ than recipient country.
 Conclusion and Implication: As the importance of ‘capacity building’ was found to be the highest in both country’s experts. Therefore, it is a need to promote development cooperation and field experts, which are the main agents of the project, and also the training of local manpower, which are the main agents of the after the end of the project. It is desirable to enhance the local manpower in both facility management and international cooperation as well as agricultural to contribute to the creation of a friendly international cooperation ecosystem as well as to enhance the sustainability of the project.

Traditional and Modern Distribution Channels for Vegetables in Vietnam: A Case Study in Hanoi City

This study aimed to provide a clear overview of the vegetable distribution system in Hanoi city which is dominated by traditional combined with the emergence of modern distribution channels, including supermarkets. The analysis was based on secondary data sources, a primary survey among 60 vegetable farmers, and in-depth interviews with other marketing system stakeholders including two agribusiness farms, four agricultural cooperatives, trade intermediaries (five collectors, three wholesalers, and three trading companies), and three supermarkets. Comparative and descriptive statistics were applied to get the full picture of vegetable distribution system, including  traditional and modern channels. While traditional distribution channels involved various intermediaries, supermarket channels tended to be shorter due to direct producer-buyer relationships. In addition, while supermarket distribution channels focused on safe vegetables, including VietGAP and organic certified vegetables, there was no difference between safe and conventional vegetables in traditional channels. Therefore, producers may get 50% higher prices when supplying supermarkets compared to traditional channels. Recommended solutions to strengthen the distribution system of vegetables are to encourage the development of agricultural cooperatives, raise vertical integration, and develop sustainable cooperation among stakeholders in the supply chain.

Development support of agricultural cooperation in Ukraine by public institutions

Problem statement. It is important to encourage entrepreneurial activity in various areas for the development of rural areas. One of the means of boosting local economic development is to promote the formation and development of agricultural cooperatives. Analysis of recent research and publications. In order to create effective conditions for the development of agricultural cooperatives, scientists and experts suggested the following ways: informational support of the agricultural cooperative movement by the state; easing tax pressure; strengthening cooperation between agricultural cooperatives and higher education institutions; using international experience of cooperation between commodity producers; development of advisory and consulting services in the field of functioning of agricultural cooperatives, etc. Under the conditions of war and in the post-war period, the proposals given by FAO specialists are relevant, in particular: to include small landowners and cooperatives, especially those located in the affected areas, in sustainable production chains. In general, a wide range of experts and scientists considered the topic of the activities of agricultural cooperatives in Ukraine. At the same time, the practice of cooperatives functioning in Ukraine and changes in legislation require reasonable proposals to support the development of agricultural cooperation. Highlighting the previously unsolved parts of the general problem. Opportunities detection for support from various public institutions and improving legislation are important areas of research regarding the further development of agricultural cooperation in Ukraine. Presentation of the main material. In November 2020, the updated law of Ukraine “On agricultural cooperation” came into force. The new law defines that members of an agricultural cooperative can choose whether to be a profitable organization or to work with no purpose of making a profit. The generated profit can be reinvested in promising business initiatives. The additional opportunities that producers receive through participation in agricultural cooperatives are primarily related to facilitating the product’s sale. One of the advantages is the possibility of joint financing by participants of agricultural cooperatives of product storage processes. Various public institutions can contribute to agricultural cooperation development in accordance with their capabilities. Thus, experts suggest that the Agricultural Exchange consider the possibility of accreditation of agricultural cooperatives under a simplified system and provide them with holidays to pay the exchange fee. There is a positive experience of assistance in the formation and development of agricultural cooperatives by advisory services. Agricultural cooperatives receive additional opportunities to access material and financial resources thanks to international technical assistance. The result of such assistance is not only an increase in revenues to local budgets from the operation of business entities but also the creation of new jobs and the unification of people living in territorial communities. It will be advisable to identify in the territorial community a person, responsible for consulting and training on agricultural cooperation in the context of expanding the powers of local self-government bodies. An example of cooperation between public organizations, experts, and local governments is their participation in the EU4Business International Technical Assistance Program: Competitiveness and Internationalization of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in 2021–2022. It is also planned to conduct a series of training on the development of entrepreneurship, including agricultural cooperation at the following program stages. Conclusions and prospects for further research. Since local self-government bodies and public organizations are the closest to entrepreneurship, their activity and communication with the population of rural areas can contribute to the expansion of the development of agricultural cooperation. Expert consulting services in the field of agricultural cooperation development can be provided by educational institutions, advisory services, various public organizations, and other public institutions. Further research should be directed to the dissemination of the territorial communities' experience where agricultural cooperatives are successfully functioning.

Analysis and Forecast of Information and Communication Technology of the Recipient Country for Smart Farm ODA Projects: Focusing on the Key Agricultural Development Cooperation Countries in Central Asia and Southeast Asia

Analysis and Forecast of Information and Communication Technology of the Recipient Country for Smart Farm ODA Projects: Focusing on the Key Agricultural Development Cooperation Countries in Central Asia and Southeast Asia

New Directions for the Development of Agricultural Cooperation

The directions of using digital technologies in farms of different sizes and their economic efficiency are presented. The creation of a digital agricultural consumer cooperative for small and medium-sized enterprises and the organizational and economic mechanism of its functioning are substantiated, an assessment of the effectiveness of the cooperative’s activities is given on the example of individual participating farms.

The Impact of the Digital Economy on High-Quality Development of Specialized Farmers’ Cooperatives: Evidence from China

The development of the digital economy is profoundly changing and influencing the development mode of specialized farmers’ cooperatives. It can promote the development of specialized farmers’ cooperatives by optimizing resource allocation, improving production efficiency, and enhancing their external service and internal governance capacity. This paper used the panel data of 30 Chinese provinces and cities from 2017 to 2020 and applied various statistical analysis methods to investigate the role of the digital economy in promoting agricultural cooperatives and their internal mechanisms. The results show the following: (1) The development of specialized farmers’ cooperatives was slightly improved in China over the studied years. Cooperatives in the eastern areas had the highest development levels, and there was a marked increase in the development of cooperatives in western regions in these years. (2) The digital economy can effectively enhance the technological innovation level and then boost the high-quality development of agricultural cooperatives. (3) The results of the threshold regression analysis show that there is only one threshold for the impact of digitalization on the development of farmers’ cooperatives. (4) By analyzing the data from these regions, we found that digitalization can foster the development of rural cooperatives not only in specific regions, but also in surrounding areas. (5) The heterogeneity analysis showed that the promoting effect of digitalization on specialized farmers’ cooperatives was more evident in the west of China than in the eastern and central regions. Therefore, this paper provides a reference for accelerating the development of specialized farmers’ cooperatives under the background of the digital economy.

Institutional context of agricultural cooperatives functioning: regional peculiarities

   Relevance. The problem of the dynamic development of agricultural cooperation is again becoming a priority item on the agenda of agricultural producers, politicians and scientists, due to new complexities and challenges of a political, climatic, biological and other nature.   One of its points is the assessment of the quality of the institutional environment for the functioning of agrarian cooperatives, in connection with which the purpose of the study presented in the article is the review and analysis of its content, moreover, taking into account the existing regional characteristics.   Methods. To study and assess the state of formal and informal institutions that favor or restrict the activities of cooperatives, the work uses qualitative and quantitative survey and analytical methods (in particular, formal-logical, historical, cultural, comparative) and corresponding tools. At the same time, the empirical base was made up of statistical information from Rosstat and its regional body (Department of the Federal State Statistics Service for the Sverdlovsk region and the Kurgan region), as well as materials obtained as a result of sociological surveys, including in-depth interviews with agricultural producers (actual and potential participants in cooperation).   Results. The main results of the study include theoretical and applied (rigorously verified) generalizations regarding: (1) the directions and degree of influence of the institutional environment on the success of agricultural cooperatives, (2) the possibilities of transforming the institutional environment in a positive direction for cooperation, (3) options for coordinated changes in formal and informal institutions for the formation of positive trends in the development of agricultural cooperation. The main conclusion is that, while informal institutions, being conservative and immobile, significantly impede the rapid and effective formation of agricultural cooperatives in the Russian Federation, it is the formal environment, which has great potential for timely adaptation, that is able to neutralize some of the serious obstacles to successful evolution of cooperative practices in agricultural sector.

Entrepreneurial ecosystem for cooperatives: The case of Kyrgyz agricultural cooperatives

AbstractThe article discusses the development of agricultural cooperatives in Kyrgyzstan from an entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) perspective. Agricultural development priorities explain cooperatives’ importance in Kyrgyz government's policies, but cooperatives still fail at countering the challenges of the smallholder economy. Considering agricultural cooperatives as a form of rural entrepreneurship, this paper aims to contribute to the discussion of the factors that support cooperatives in developing countries adapting the EE framework to cooperative entrepreneurship. Using a content analysis method, we analysed and coded textual data from documentary and archival publications on the agricultural cooperatives in Kyrgyzstan published by the government, cooperatives and their unions and the reports of international organizations. We identify five main dimensions of the cooperative entrepreneurial ecosystem for cooperatives: (1) policy and regulatory framework; (2) education and skills; (3) market environment; (4) culture; (5) networks. We found that even if the overall structure of cooperatives’ EE can be comparable to conventional enterprises, its sub‐elements significantly differ for cooperative enterprises. Despite its exploratory character and single‐case research design, this article contributes to the theoretical discussion on cooperative entrepreneurial ecosystems in post‐socialist developing contexts and offers a framework of analysis for cooperative development policies and practices.