EVALUATION OF FACTORS AFFECTING MEMBERS’ PARTICIPATION AND IDENTIFYING THEIR OVERALL PARTICIPATION LEVEL IN MULTIPURPOSE AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES IN TOKE KUTAYE WOREDA OF WEST SHEWA ZONE, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Author: Michael Senbeta Feyisa 

ABSTRACT

This article is aimed to identify the factors affecting members’ participation and evaluate the overall participation level in toke kutaye woreda, west shewa zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia. To achieve the goal the data was collected from primary and secondary sources using semi-structured questionnaires and focus group discussions based on the 290 respondents calculated via a scientific sample size determination. To analyze data, descriptive statistical tools (frequency, percentage, mean, and std. deviation) and a binary logistic regression model were used with the help of SPSS version 24. The result of the binary logistic regression model revealed that age, education level, farm size, annual income, shareholding, patronage, credit access, number of professional employees, position in the cooperative, and distance from the coop center were significant at 1% and 5% confidence levels. In addition to this,  lack of feasibility study, poor awareness about cooperative principles and values, inadequate access to training, inadequate markets, poor credit systems, incapable leaders, lack of audit and inspection, seasonal change, and conflicts are some of the causes of passive participation for cooperative members. The study also pointed out that the mean result of the participation index of management activities of the respondents was 0.74 (SD=0.3265). It was medium level. The mean result of the participation index in financial activities of the respondents was 0.29 (SD=0.1155). It was low level. The mean result of the participation index in business activities of the respondents was 0.74 (SD=0.3265). It was high level. Therefore, the overall mean sample score of meaningful participation was 0.54.  This shows that medium level of members’ participation. Generally the participation of cooperative members’’ was not balanced. They were highly participating in business activities: farm input and output services, medium participation in management activities, and low participation in financial activities. The researcher recommends that cooperative promoters of different levels have to work on improving members’ participation more on financial aspects, management, and business as well.

Keywords: multipurpose cooperatives, factors, members’ participation, members

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