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COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT
Principle of Involvement
Co-operative extension should be based on the principle of involvement.
That is, people to whom Co-operative idea is extended, have to become.
“Involved” in the extension programme. They must participate and be active in
the programme. Each programme should be organized with the active co-
operation and participation of the people. All the time they should be consulted,
asked to give opinions, to make decisions. In this process, they act, learn, gain
experience –in short, they are trained and educated by becoming “involved”. It is
thus that ordinary people grow in understanding g and experience.
Areas of Co-operative Extension work
Areas of Co-operative extension work may be broadly classified into three
major groups: 1) organization, (2) Development, and (3) perpetuation.
Extension for organization covers-(I) Organization of individual societies,
and (II) integration of inter-related Co-operatives. Extension for development
includes various areas, Viz…, (I) membership drive, (II) management
guidance, (III) revitalization, (iv) development of business, (V) development
of viable units, (VI) member education, and (VII) development of leadership.
Extension for perpetuation means extension for creating conditions for the
perpetual existence and growth of the Co-operative movement. This is done
by sowing the seed of co-operation in the minds of young people and the
public at large. Thus this extension covers Co-operative education to youth
and propagation of Cooperation among the public. In Ethiopian context,
these areas of cooperati8ve extension is undertaken and delivered by the
promotion bureaus at various levels. The role of cooperative promotion
bureaus is discussed hereunder.
The subject Cooperation is coming under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development in Ethiopia. There is no separate Ministry for Cooperation. The
Cooperative Agency is the policy making authority relating to the cooperatives
and cooperative legal system in Ethiopia. The Cooperative Proclamation is
coming under the purview of Cooperative Agency. The organizational set up of
the Department of Cooperation is given below, in the order of hierarchy.
1.The Federal Cooperative Agency
2.Regional Cooperative Promotion Bureau
3.Woreda (District) Cooperative Promotion Bureau
The Bureau has three categories of staff viz., Organisation and Promotion
Experts, Market Experts and Audit and Inspection Experts. Each wing has a
team leader and specified duties and responsibilities. A team leader directs these
wings. Among these organization and promotion wing is responsible for
cooperative extension work in the woreda.
Another useful definition defines the group in psychological terms as: any
number of people who:
• interact with one another
• are psychologically aware of one another
• perceive themselves to be a group.
Group Dynamics
Interest in the study of group process and behaviour has led to the
development of group dynamics and a range of group training methods aimed at
increasing group effectiveness through improving social interaction skills.
Group dynamics is the study of interactions and forces within small face-
to-face groups.
Group dynamics in Cooperative Extension
Cooperative Group: A Cooperative Group is one wherein persons join
together for a common purpose to be achieved through a group effort adopting
the participatory means and methods by strictly adhering the cooperative values
and principles.
Cooperatives enable groups of people to achieve goals, which are only
possible through joint effort.
The cooperative extension activity is done with the group of members for
their development. Since it is undertaken for the member groups, the group
dynamics in cooperative extension automatically arises. Cooperative extension is
a group based activity, has its own group features to be adopted for the sake of
members so that they can have sufficient knowledge on basics of cooperation,
cooperative values and principles, knowledge on constitution, cooperative
management and cooperative business.
References
Krishnaswami O.R. 1985. Fundamentals of Cooperation, New Delhi: S. Chand &
Co Ltd.
Krishnaswami O.R. 1976. Cooperative Democracy in Action, New Delhi:
Somaiya Publication Pvt Ltd.
Karve D.G. 1958. Community Development and Cooperation, New Delhi: Ministry of
Community Development and Cooperation :1-14.
Khan M.K. 1937. Cooperation and Rural Reconstruction in India, Hyderabad:
Lakshmi :2.
Kahlon A.S. and Palta K.C. 1954. Cooperation Theory and Practice, Jallundur:
Cooperative Publishers:45.
Jain P.C. 1959. Agriculture and Cooperation in India, Allahabad: Kitabmalal :6
Jain. LC. 1996. “In the Wake of Freedom, India’s Trust with Cooperatives”,
Concept Publishing House, New Delhi: 162-163.
Jalal R.S. 1995. Rural Cooperatives in India, New Delhi: Anmol Publications Pvt.
Ltd: 90.
Kulkarani K.R. 1962. Theory and Practice of Cooperation in India and Abroad,Vol I,
Bombay : Cooperators’ Book Depot :9.
Remi.J.Chiasson. 1961. Cooperation. The Key to Better Communities, Antigonish:
St. Francis Xavier University: 133.
Sharada V. 1986. The Theory of Cooperation, New Delhi: Himalaya Publishing
House: 7.
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