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COOPERATIVE EXTENSION – AN APPROACH FOR

COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Dr.M.Karthikeyan, Assistant Professor, Department of Cooperatives, Faculty of


Social Sciences, Ambo University College, Ambo.

Asst. Prof.Bekele Tassew, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Ambo University


College, Ambo.

Extension work as applied to the Cooperative Movement means, “the extending


of all forms of Cooperative endeavour”. The objective of cooperative extension
work is to extend cooperative knowledge to people, to create genuine
cooperatives so as to extend the benefits of cooperation to more and more
people and to get them involved in the effective management of their
cooperatives.

Cooperative Extension defined

Cooperative Extension can be defined as “the strategy to cultivate the


cooperative culture among members and general public through
participatory means and methods to inculcate, educate, propagate /
disseminate the cooperative ideology, cooperative philosophy, cooperative
knowledge, benefits of cooperation, the universally accepted cooperative
values, principles and practices by employing cooperative support
services including the cooperative extension staff and mass media
resulted to a positive change in awareness, knowledge, understanding,
attitude and perception (AKUAP) on cooperation. Cooperative Extension
is a tool for retaining the members with loyalty as also attracting the
general public towards the cooperative fold”.
- The Author - M.Karthikeyan, 2005.

The need for Cooperative Extension Work


There is vast scope for cooperative extension work in developing
countries. Millions of people – farmers, artisans, craftsmen, labourers, salary-
earners and consumers – need cooperative societies to raise their standard of
living, to protect themselves economically and to develop themselves socially.
Though cooperation is the only solution for their socio-economic problems, they,
in general, are not aware that they could solve their problems by organizing
themselves into cooperatives. They also lack the initiative or ability to start the
necessary programme on their own. Who should take the initiative and show
them the way? In developing countries where the largest number of people are in
need of cooperatives, Government should be the first agency responsible for
taking the initiative, for, only Government could afford to finance the enormous
undertaking necessary to start cooperatives on such a large scale.

Ethiopian Government was thus right when it took steps to organize


cooperatives since 1960’s. But unfortunately proper care was not taken to create
a suitable environment before actually starting cooperatives. With the result, the
Ethiopian cooperative movement has not developed into a popular one as that of
other developed and developing countries.

There is a vast scope for organizing new societies in Ethiopia. A large


percent of the households needs to be organized into suitable types of
cooperatives such as service cooperatives, industrial cooperatives, cooperative
stores, etc. Cooperative extension is necessary to achieve this great task.
Cooperative extension work is necessary for increasing membership in societies
already operating and for revitalizing dormant and weak societies.

Cooperative Extension – mainly a psychological process


The Co-operative extension work is more difficult and complex. It is easy
to demonstrate improved methods of cultivation or modern techniques of craft
work; but it is difficult to demonstrate to the people the benefits of co-operation,
as co-operative extension worker has to deal with ‘[men’s attitudes and mental
outlook, not with cold organizational structures.” Co-operative extension is, thus,
a psychological process and calls for patient and persistent work. In order to
organize a co-operative society and make it succeed, many people have to be
convinced and brought together, the aggressive and often cunning opposition of
the vested interests has to be faced; the people have to be got involved
financially, and the entire outlook of people has to be changed. The
transformation of individualistic and self-centered attitude into Co-operative
outlook and unselfish attitude takes time. As said by Prof..A.F. Laidlaw, “it often
calls for the molding as a new personality and this cannot be done overnight.”
Therefore, the result of Co-operative extension work is not as quickly perceptible
as that of a demonstration farm. It is a slow process, but a sure one. Its effects
will be reflected in the general awakening and enlightenment, and growing
interest and sustaining loyalty of members of Co-operative societies. These
healthy trends may lead to the development of Co-operation as a people’s
movement.

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

Role of Federal Cooperative Agency

The Federal Cooperative Agency, previously known as Federal Cooperative


Commission, is the highest body for the cooperative movement in the country.
The General Director is the authority formerly known as the Cooperative
Commissioner. Under him, there are several officers in different wings of
administration and management like personnel office, plan and project office,
internal audit, registrar, RUFIP (Rural Finance Intermediation Program),
administration and finance service, vice-commissioner, cooperative promotion
unit and capacity building and human power study unit. The basic role of federal
cooperative agency is organization, promotion and development of cooperatives
as well as checking that cooperatives stick to the legislation passed by the
government.

Role of Regional Cooperative Bureaus


One of the subdivisions of the Federal Cooperative Agency is Regional
Cooperative Promotion Bureau. The bureaus play a key role in organizing and
promoting cooperatives in the respective region. It is here that the policies are
implemented and transferred downwards. The regional bureau is the link
between the central agency and the cooperative societies, the organizers,
promoters, auditors, and others who are engaged in the organization and
promotion of cooperatives in the region.

The functions of the regional cooperative promotion bureau


1. Regional bureau through the promotion team performs duties and
responsibilities in organizing and promoting the cooperatives in the region;
2. Organisation of cooperatives in the region;
3. Develop and promote cooperatives in the region;
4. Encourage the organizers and promoters to organize different types of
cooperatives and promote them;
5. Registration of cooperative societies in the region;
6. The regional bureau is performing the arbitration duty;
7. Other legal formalities as specified in the Cooperative Proclamation.

Role of Woreda Cooperative Promotion Bureau

In Ethiopia registration of cooperative societies, differs from region to region. In


some regions societies are registered by the Regional Cooperative Promotion
Bureau and in several regions registration is done by Woreda 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.

Duties and responsibilities of Organisation and Promotion Team experts


1.Helps the farmers cooperative societies in the preparation of annual plan and
their functional strategy and assists in its implementation.
2.Follow-up whether basic documents of the societies are completed.
3.Provides farmers cooperative societies with professional assistance and
follows their day-to-day activities.
4.Follow-up if the activities undertaken by the management committees, control
committees during the movement of the societies are based on the byelaws and
directives of the societies.
5.Selects farmers cooperatives and provides assistance pursuant to the criteria
sent by Zonal Bureau and Woreda Bureau.
6.Conducts socio-economic research to organize new cooperatives.
7.Provides education to members and facilitates conditions to get consecutive
education and information.
8.Encourages cooperative societies to conduct annual general assembly and
provides important support by attending the general assembly.
9.Prepares monthly, quarterly report about the movement of societies.
10.Participates in different training, annual work plan and budget.
11.Collects the annual work plan based on the format passed on plan collection
by the Zonal Promotion Bureau.
12.Undertakes other necessary activities entrusted by the manager.

Cooperative Extension Approaches


The prominent cooperative approaches are summarized below.
Peripatetic Approach: Cooperative education and extension programs
are introduced with peripatetic approach. The cooperation extension workers
move form society to society and organize extension and education class /
camps for different target groups, members – potential members, including
women and youth. The objective is to acquaint them with the functioning of
cooperatives, bylaws, rights and responsibilities and create awareness about
cooperative development programs.
Intensive and Team Approach: This approach was introduced by
various national cooperative organizations with the support of ICA. It was an
innovative project implemented with the main features of: intensive and team
approach, integrating farm guidance with cooperative education, dovetailing
social and developmental activities with cooperative development, and
recognizing family as the unit of cooperative development. This can be replicated
in Ethiopia for cooperative development.
Field Educative Project Approach: Field educative projects are
implemented by the cooperatives as an extension approach in selected regions.
This project aims at increasing the serviceability of societies and productivity of
members.
Member Education Programs for Artisan / Industrial cooperatives:
With the major objective of providing technical and managerial support to the
artisans enabling them to strengthen their societies.
Women cooperatives Project: This approach is introduced with the
objective of improving the socio-economic conditions of women target groups by
mobilizing them into cooperatives.
HRD for increased involvement of women: This is a special approach
in cooperative extension to educate and create awareness on vocational training
among women and special courses are offered in the field of HRD for increased
involvement of women in cooperatives.
Other Approaches: Other approaches like HRD activities for youth
involvement in cooperatives, HRD for weaker sections and minorities (physically
handicapped, tribes and educationally backward).

Group Dynamics as an Approach to Cooperative Extension


Group – Meaning and importance
Individuals seldom work in isolation from others. Groups are a
characteristic of all social situations and almost everyone in an organization will
be a member of one or more groups. The working of groups and the influence
they exert over their membership is an essential feature of human behaviour and
organizational performance.
There are many possible ways of defining what group means. The
essential feature of a group is that its members regard themselves as belonging
to the group. A group consists of a number of people who have:
• a common objective or task
• an awareness of group identity and boundary
• a minimum set of agreed values and norms which regulates their
relatively exclusive mutual interaction.

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.

Features of Cooperative Group


• Collective group effort / mechanism
• Participatory means and methods of management
• Collective and participatory decision-making process
• Human relations
• Neighbourliness
• Caring for others
• Sharing knowledge / skills (shared interests)
• Development of social interaction and relationship
• Coordination of tasks (synergy)
• Negotiation / conflict resolution
• Emphasis on problem solving
• Individual efficiency through group efficiency
• Group efficiency for organizational efficiency / effectiveness
• Mobilisation and motivation

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.

Cooperative Extension Approaches for member Education Programmes


First Priority: The very approach to member education programme needs re-
orientation. The importance of education in Co-operation for the development of
Co-operatives into real people’s organizations should be realized by all
associated with the Co-operative movement. The re-organization of the Co-
operative education programme on sound lines should receive first priority in the
scheme of things. Continuous, persistent and systematic educational efforts
should be made in order to enlighten the members, to develop a social vision in
them, to build a feeling of awareness of and pride in, Co-operative membership,
to make them realize the importance of their attending membership meetings and
participation in the democratic decision-making process, to keep alive in them the
sense of belonging together and the Co-operative spirit, and to develop
leadership among them.

Educational Committee: There should be an elected Educational Committee to


carry on educational work in each primary society. As most of the primary
societies are smaller units, they cannot afford to meet themselves the cost of
their educational programme. Therefore, until they become strong and viable
units, Government and Federal Co-operative Institutions should provide liberal
financial aid to the primary Societies to carry on the education work. The
primaries should allocate some percentage of profit towards cooperative
education and training.

Cultural Programmes and Audio-Visual Aids: But illiteracy is a major difficulty


in Co-operative education. Therefore, Co-operative education programme should
be designed as an education-cum-adult literacy programme. The simple lecture
method is found to be very ineffective. Native cultural programmes (telling story
with songs), and drama, and audio-visual aids such as pictures, charts, flannel
graph, ,flash cards, filmstrips, posters, T.V., and radio should be used. Messages
reach the human mind through seeing, hearing and doing.
Study Circle Method: Study circle method is considered to be an effective
method of member education. A study circle usually consists of ten to fifteen
members meeting at weekly, fortnightly or monthly intervals over a specified
period to study a selected topic. This method is based on the principle of group
dynamics. Experience shows that the application of this principle must take into
account “the leadership pattern, social make-up and folkways of each village.” It
is also necessary to make the study-circle problem-centred and not institution-
centered. Discussion should grow out of the felt-needs of members.

Orientation Programme: There should be and orientation programme for new


members to introduce them to the Co-operative principles, the bylaws of their
own Co-operative, its structure and working, its directors and the method of
election to the Board, and to teach them their duties and responsibilities as
members.
Member-relations progrmmes: The education programme should be
supplemented by regular member relations programmes for maintaining good
relation between the members and society. These programmes may include
meetings with members, answering their questions, listening to their wants and
their complaints, giving member sufficient and accurate information on what the
Co-operative has done, what it hopes to do for them and telling frankly the
operational problems to them. Printed materials like reports, pamphlets, folders,
etc., may be used for this purpose. These materials tell ‘permanently’ what oral
instructions can only convey ‘temporarily’.

Programme in member education should precede the programme of


organization of societies. These should be implemented by Co-operative
Promotion Bureaus.

Youth Programmes: Young people are tomorrow’s Co-operators’. Therefore,


Co-operatives should initiate programmes may include: teaching of the history of
farmers’ Co-operatives in this and other countries, the reason for organizing them
and principles of Co-operation; organization of future Farmers or young Farmers
Association and recognition of their accomplishments with prizes and other
awards; organization of Youth Forums for discussion; sponsoring contests for
Young Farmers; holding Youth Camps providing both recreation and Co-
operative education; organization of junior Boards of Directors; giving youth a
part in the general meeting programme in providing entertainment, and arranging
visits to Co-operatives. In this educational field, Co-operatives should work in
close collaboration with Agricultural Colleges and Universities, Rural Institutes of
Higher Education and Co-operative Training Centres and Colleges.

References
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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:
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Kahlon A.S. and Palta K.C. 1954. Cooperation Theory and Practice, Jallundur:
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Jain P.C. 1959. Agriculture and Cooperation in India, Allahabad: Kitabmalal :6
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Ltd: 90.
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