The Role of Cooperatives in Agricultural Product marketing: The Case of Uta Wayu Multipurpose Farmers Cooperative Union in Shashamane District, in West Arsi Zone of Oromia Region.

The main purpose of this thesis is to investigate and understand the role of cooperatives in<br> agricultural product marketing in the case study of Uta Wayu Multipurpose Farmers<br> cooperative Union in Shashamane District. The descriptive survey was used for this study.<br> Because it enables the researcher to investigate and report what is happened and happening by<br> using appropriate data collection instruments without having any control over the variables.<br> The combination of both qualitative and quantitative approach was used in order to reduce the<br> weakness of only using either one of the approach. Qualitative data was obtained through<br> structured interview of sample members in the cooperatives and in-depth interviews with<br> officials in the selected cooperatives and concerned bodies at different levels as the basic data<br> gathering tool while quantitative data was generated through trend analysis of sales and<br> dividend distribution of the selected cooperatives. Hence both primary and secondary data<br> were used for this study. A two stages probability sampling and purposive sampling methods<br> were used for this study. A total of 320 sampled member respondents from selected<br> cooperatives were taken and included in the structured interview schedule and appropriate<br> officials and employees at different levels of the cooperative structure in the study area were<br> included in the in-depth interview schedule as primary source of data. Secondary data was<br> also taken through reviewing the dividend distribution and sales data of the union. Appropriate<br> descriptive statistical tools such as tabular presentation,, charts, frequency, percentage, and<br> figures were used to analyze the obtained quantitative data. The qualitative data was<br> summarized in a report form. The study results in study area how that the various roles<br> played by of cooperatives are not efficient in pursuing cooperatives’ purpose. There have<br> been many constraints that encounter cooperatives functions. Even though cooperatives are<br> striving to serve their members their service performance has fallen short of success. The<br> identified reasons were poor management system, embezzlement and corruption by boards<br> and committee, lack of skilled workers, poor support from stakeholders, price fluctuation,<br> and low level of members awareness about cooperative laws, shortage of capital and lack of<br> coordinated efforts of the cooperative society and stakeholders are some of the important<br> constraints for cooperatives not to perform as it has to. This in turn creates lack of<br> confidence on member farmers to fully participate in the cooperatives affairs. As a result, it<br> requires strong attention and commitment of cooperatives stakeholders to overcome these<br> constraints such as acquiring skilled man power, closer support and supervision of the<br> cooperatives activities.