THE ROLE OF COOPERATIVES IN ENHANCING RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: THE CASE OF SODO WEREDA, GURAGE ZONE

Abstract

The study was conducted in Southern Nations and nationalities 3HRSOH¶V 5HJLRQ,Gurage zone Sodo Wereda with the general objectives of to assess the role of cooperatives to enhance the economic development of the society. The researcher was used descriptive research design method to describe the role of cooperatives in the society now days. The data were collected from 391 cooperative member respondents in Sodo Wereda cooperative societies which are selected randomly. The major source of data for this study was the primary data which was collected from questionnaires and interview. The researcher was analysis and interpreted the data in the form oftable and percentage. The finding stated that there are so many problems that hinder the role of cooperatives in enhancing economic development in the societies such as: passive participation of members, lack of trained man power, shortage of finance,and mistrust among members in the cooperatives. To reduce such problems and limitations increase members participation to create awareness among members, givetraining to improve their skill, selling additional issued share and minimize mistrustamong members and maintain piece