Democratic decision making and member participation in primary agricultural marketing co-operatives in Tanzania: evidence from selected primary co-operatives of Bukoba and Moshi districts
Loading...
Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AJCDT
Abstract
Co-operatives play an important role in facilitating the dual aspect of economic
and social development. Members have the dual rights to practice and participate
democratically in the decision making on cooperative society’s governance. In
Tanzania, the co-operative policy and legislation highlights democratic ownership
and participative democracy in co-operatives; the elements have remained a
blueprint and its practice has remained on the legislation. The study examined:
membership and member fulfilment of participative obligations, participation on
internal democracy in the primary Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Societies
(AMCOs), members engagement in co-operative business, member ownership and
decision making in the primary AMCOs, and primary AMCOs member access to
democratic rights. It was guided by the principle agent theory that explains the
relationship between members and management. The study was based on the
evidence from the primary AMCOs of Bukoba and Moshi districts. 400 members
were involved in the household survey. Further, key informant interviews and focus
group discussion were employed. The findings show that members were not
following the established procedures for acquiring memberships. Also, internal
democracy was higher in Moshi District primary AMCOs compared to those in
Bukoba. Further, the democratic practice in primary AMCOs was exercised more
at joining the AMCOs and in electing board members. On the other hand, not all
primary AMCOs members were selling their produce in the primary AMCOs. The
Board and Managers should involve members in decision making as the co-
operative members are the principle owners of the co-operative society thus
requiring that they practice their democratic rights in order to own decisions made.
Description
Conference proceeding paper
Keywords
Democratic decision making, Member participation, Primary agricultural marketing co-operatives