Assessing the operations of agricultural cooperatives at Nkomazi Municipality, Mpumalanga Province
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Date
2017
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Publisher
University of Zululand
Abstract
The study hopes to bring about the enlightenment to the operations of agricultural cooperatives at Nkomazi municipality namely ward 7, 25, 29 and 30. The study therefore assess the operations of agricultural cooperatives while identifying the operational processes of cooperatives; examining the management techniques of cooperatives; determining membership participation and commitment to cooperatives and identifying the measures adopted in the monitoring and evaluation of agricultural cooperatives.
The research method that was used to gather data was qualitative research approach, the design adopted descriptive research design and the research method used is multiple case study method. The research data collection tools comprises of structured and unstructured interviews, policy document analysis, structured observations and this was done using a questionnaires an instrument for a sample size of 40 agricultural cooperatives. A non-probability sampling was used and the type on non-probability that is both purposive and convenience sampling to sample the respondents. The results showed that 75% of the respondents are employed by the agricultural cooperatives. Significantly, 90% agricultural cooperatives have members depends on agricultural cooperatives for income. It is noted that 10% of the agricultural cooperatives were established during the year 1993 and before significantly 8% (3) was operational in that particular year. Astonishingly, the results show statistically a constant growth by 45% of established and operational agricultural cooperatives in the year 2015 to 2016. The results shows that the operations of the agricultural cooperatives depended massively on the main activities associated and other several operational events such as funds, human resources and raw material.The outcome of the study was evident that even though some cooperative operate without proper management and monitoring and evaluations techniques, the cooperatives still contribute massively the local food nets and to the local economy within the study area.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Faculty Arts in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters in Development Studies in the Department of Anthropology and Development Studies at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2017.
Keywords
agriculture --cooperatives --Mpumalanga --South Africa