COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNANCE AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES FACTORS AFFECTINGFARMERS‟MULTIPURPOSCOOPERATIVES PERFORMANCE:THE CASE OF MAREKO WOREDA, GURAGHE ZONE

Abstract

The focus of this thesis was to descriptive investigating factors affecting the performance of farmers‟ multipurpose cooperatives. The study was conducted based on the 227 samples of respondents taken from within the case population of the farmers‟ multipurpose cooperatives, based on two stage sampling procedure. The sample also included 8 individuals from employees of organizing and regulating organ ( Mareko woreda cooperative development office ). The findings have shown that significant /problems the farmers‟ multipurpose cooperatives have been facing in its journey towards meeting stated mission. These come under two major categories, viz. the contribution that the farmers‟ multipurpose cooperatives makes to the local development of the wereda and the various problems that constrain its capacity in playing more significant role in governance (local development endeavor). The findings of this study also revealed that the farmers‟ multipurpose cooperative has been making significant contribution in the local development endeavor in both economic and social aspects. However, there have also been various problems limiting the farmers‟ multipurpose cooperatives form fully playing its role in the local development of the Woreda. These include leadership and member related gaps and other problems emanating there for lack of competence and commitment leaders, lack of well-developed system/standards of accountability, lack of established organizational culture and shared view on the coop values, principles and laws, missing link in the organizational structure of the coop, weak members participation; weak enforcement of rules and regulations, lack of knowledge center specifically designed for cooperatives, outdated provisions of cooperative laws and the negative effect of competition The findings of this study can therefore be signal to the leaders and managers of the coop understudy, other relevant stakeholders to get alert of the problems and take the recommendations given into account as possible solution. Explanation/description and interpretation based the data summarized and presented with the help of descriptive statistics like tables and percentages