FACTORS AFFECTING PERFORMANCE OF FRUIT PRODUCERS COOPERATIVES: (A CASE OF MIRAB ABAYA WOREDA IN GAMO ZONE, SNNPRS)

Ethiopia is among the poorest countries in the world where agriculture is the major source of living for<br> more than 83% of its people. The agriculture sector is dominant in the national economy. However, its<br> performance in production and productivity is poor to bring sustainable changes in the living standards<br> of the rural community. Nevertheless, the major factor for the low income per household in the Ethiopian<br> rural society especially farmers in the study area is the problem of the financial performance that can<br> govern the economic development of any development sector. Thus, the general objective of the study is to<br> factors affecting performance of fruit producer’s cooperatives in Mirab Abaya Woreda in Gamo Zone<br> SNNPR of Ethiopia. To see the performance of cooperatives union, emphasis was given for evaluating<br> their overall performances; Market access, Market information, Credit access, Transportation access and<br> Management Practices as well as perceived problems in using the available services. To accomplish this<br> a proportionate probability sampling technique was used. To accomplish a proportionate probability<br> sampling technique was used. And it involves purposive sampling to select sample respondents from five<br> cooperatives union which produce banana. In case of primary data were collected from sample<br> respondents through using personal and structured interview schedule. The researcher used mixed<br> research approach which comprises descriptive and analytical research method.