Time to redefine cooperatives

Deliberations on the subject of cooperatives have always been replete with clichés so far. But as the world today discovers itself in a political and economic conundrum, an extensive network of cooperative societies together with social business stands to reclaim its rightful place in human society. The declaration of the year 2012 as Cooperative Year bears testimony to this renewed interest in cooperatives. At a function arranged on the occasion of observing the 40th National Cooperatives Day last Saturday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina underscored the need for infusing momentum into the country's cooperative movement. This paper could not agree more. Like her, it also recognises the immense potential of cooperatives here. The fact that the country boasts 0.177 million cooperative societies with a 9.0 million-strong force of their members certainly favours exploitation of the potential too. But what will stand as a great stumbling-block in the way is the unavoidable clash of interests between the members of cooperative societies and followers of political parties, the ruling party in particular - no matter which party is in power. But today's economic realities in Bangladesh as also in the developing and developed countries decidedly point to creation of a market and employment environment where growers are guaranteed the lion's share of sale proceeds from their produces and workers an equitable share of profits. So the number one prerequisite for cooperatives is to maintain a non-political character free from any type of political interference. Nine million productive men and women including artisans are indeed a force to reckon with. If they receive support in such areas as marketing of produces or products, in developing cottage industries and crop or other insurances, it will do a world of good to them as well as the end users in cities and villages. They will receive fair price for their produces and products and in return will ensure quality produces and products for consumers. Marketing is crucial because of making the role of the middlemen redundant from the entire process of marketing. During the last caretaker government such an initiative was launched for direct sale of produces from Narsingdi and surrounding areas at a few kitchen markets in Dhaka city with enormous success. The country's farmers have proved their enterprise and entrepreneurship. If their cooperatives are provided the initial boost in the form of renting vehicles for carrying their produces, they will be able to buy back those vehicles over time with accumulation of funds. The agriculture extension service in the country has silently been causing a revolution in farming. Today, farmers have diversified their crops well beyond the traditional cereal cultivation. Let there be a comprehensive plan to put the scarce cultivable land here to the best possible use. In that case, the management of cooperative societies and the agriculture extension department will have to have regular interactions at several levels starting from the top to the field level. Thus cooperatives of farmers have to be complemented by those of artisans of cottage industries and the gains from their combined economic output may indeed ensure a far better quality of life for those at the bottom half of society.