CONTRIBUTION OF YIRGA CHEFFE COFFEE FARMER COOPERATIVE UNION TO ITS COFFEE PRODUCER IN KOCHORE WOREDA GEDEO ZONE SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT The study targeted on thecontribution of YirgaCheffe Coffee Farmer Cooperative Union to its coffee producer members in KochoreWoredaGedeo Zone southern Ethiopia. ofthe study at identifying the main economic development contributions, potentials and challenges of coffee producer memebers of YirgaCheffe Coffee Farmer Cooperatives Union.The study also analyzes differences in income and productivity level of coffee farmer before and after becoming memberof the Cooperative Union.Itexamines the major economic benefits (livelihood asset creation income saving and expenditure style) of becoming members of the cooperative in Yirgachefe Union to Coffee Producer to its members in KochoreWoreda. The study used mixed method approach.Data were collected by structured questionnaire, depth interviews and secondary data reviews.The Woreda was purposively selected from Gedeo Zone. The primary data were collected from 70 farmersand 15 experts and stakeholdersin Hama,Biloya and SigigaKebeles of KochoreWoreda. A descriptive analysis was employed to analyze the data gathered from informants. The study shows that the selected case study cooperatives have considerably contributed socio-economic development ofcoffee producing membersin poverty reduction through agricultural cost reduction, access to market and better price for outputs to their members. The findings of the study on the selected cooperatives and households show that given the willingness of the farmers to join cooperatives, the feeling of belongingness they have to the cooperatives and the participatory method of development the cooperatives have, the rural low income population would take any opportunity to join cooperatives that would help members to end poverty at the household level.Towards this end, the study identified many challenges that should be addressed such as low standard of performance, poor management, capacity limitations, corruption and misuse of funds by the executives of cooperatives and unions, narrow scope of services and lack of collaborative work. If the cooperatives work to avoid these bottlenecks, they can further develop and bring remarkable changes in the living standard of the rural poor.