ASSESSING THE PERFORMANCE OF COFFEE MARKETING COOPERATIVES: (A CASE OF DALE WOREDA, SIDAMA REGION, ETHIOPIA)

Coffee marketing cooperatives are anticipated to play an important role in the efforts to develop<br> the sector. Therefore, this study were designed to assess the performance of coffee marketing<br> cooperatives of Dale woreda, Sidama region, Ethiopia. The main objectives of the study also to<br> examine factors that influence the performance of coffee marketing cooperatives and to know the<br> major challenges and opportunities of coffee marketing cooperatives. All necessary data for<br> accomplishment of the paper was collected from primary and secondary sources through<br> questionnaire and interview method of data collection and the types of research were used under<br> this study using descriptive analysis method for the purpose of assessing the performance of<br> coffee marketing cooperatives and identification of factors influencing them. The sample size<br> was included 3 coffee marketing cooperatives out of 8 cooperatives in the woreda. Purposive<br> sampling and simple random sampling techniques were used to identify the area of strength and<br> weakness of coffee marketing cooperatives and members satisfaction. In Dale woreda, financial<br> ratios were enabled to make comparison of cooperative financial conditions such as balance<br> sheet and income statement based on annual audit reports of the cooperatives. Here, efficiency<br> ratios, income ratios and creditworthiness ratios (liquidity ratios and financial leverage<br> management ratios) was calculated as performance indicators. The results of the study revealed<br> that coffee cooperatives in the study area are moderately progressing so far as strengthening<br> their financial positions and serving their members is concerned. Awareness creation to<br> members in primary cooperatives and support in provision of finance, education, training and<br> consultancy service for the cooperatives is the major recommendation for this study.