The Effect of Government Interferences in the Working of Primary Agricultural Cooperatives in Mida Kegn Woreda, West Shewa, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study attempted to assess the effect of government interferences in the working of primary Agricultural Cooperatives in case of Mida Kegn district. This study was addressed the question What the dimension of government interferences in the democratic management of primary Agricultural Cooperatives as Mida Kegn woreda, What the government interferences in implementation of Legal Frame Work in primary Agricultural Cooperatives as Mida Kegn woreda and How the governments interfere in the business activities of primary Agricultural Cooperatives in the case of Mida Kegn woreda. This research design was mixed; the target population of this study was the study population was including the whole primary Agricultural Cooperatives in Mida Kegn district. From 4121, 76 management and 33 control committee totally 109 respondent was selected purposively for the study. Data was collected through key interview and questionnaires’. Data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The major finding of this study was the General Assembly of the society is takes place not according to the bylaw without interference of external body, Decision making in the cooperative society is not made by the major number of members, Election system in the cooperative is not democratically controlled by members (GA) only, and Cooperative society needs governmental body’s permission to make any contract with any organization. GA was challenging in made a decision due to high interference of government. Cooperative proclamation which is prepared for their cooperative society is not approved by all members without opposition, Governmental body has no mandate to control and supervise your cooperative society’s activity and Audit and Inspection not performed by government in the cooperative society without the request of cooperative management bodies in proper way. Agricultural inputs distribution service is given for members and nonmembers with not equal price, When credit is given for members there were grievance on its rate of interest and duration, Consuming goods are supplied according to member’s needs not without governmental interference, Agricultural products are collected from members on time and sold through facilitating better marketing which is not free from external body and Cooperative society shouldn’t pay income tax from its surplus for a government. Recommendation was for warded for the study area.