Cooperatives And Agricultural Development In Elgon Reg Lion A Case Study Of Bugisu Cooperatives Union (Bcu)

ABSTRACT

This repmi presents the findings of BCU aimed at assessing the role of BCU towards

agricultural development in the Elgon region. Its major findings are three;

First BCU has attained 36 percent on average of its endeavourer to attain agricultural

development through training of farmers, development of infrastructure, increasing the

saving culture, sharing of profits (Bonus), determining the price and income generation

,distribution and redistribution.

Secondly the problems facing BCU towards agricultural development in the Elgon region

such as low capitalization, political interfere, poor storage facilities and other

infrastructure, unfair business practices and governance and leadership gaps are a result

liberalization of the economy as this has affected both the quality and quantity of coffee handed by the union (BCU) As possible solutions, there 1s need to rev1ew the cooperative lows as regards

liberalization of agricultural sector, reduce government involvement in the daily affairs of the union and increase government financing through reducing the interest rates. Finally, the cooperative union should carry out both vertical and horizontal restructuring so as to adopt to the rapidly changing economic environment reflected in increase globalization and agricultural industrialization if there are benefit members and should operate as organization not as a firm as advocated by (Heimberger and Hoos 1962) but as an organization (Emellant 1942, Robotka, 1947 and Philip 1953).