July 27 2006, 15:02

DARY BEREGIVSHCHYNY cooperative proves the efficiency of farmers' collaboration

Market relations in the agrarian industry stimulated the emergence of new economic entities: farmers, small private agricultural enterprises, service cooperatives, rural service centers, etc. They are important elements of market infrastructure and its development. The chain of service and collecting-sales cooperatives, agricultural trading house is in the process of formation, so rural people start to sell produce through these chains. The service agricultural cooperative DARY BEREGIVSHCHYNY is an example of complex development of small rural business. The cooperative was created this year under support of the Agricultural Marketing Project in Zakarpattya. The cooperative united vegetable producers from several communities under leadership of Valentina Polyak, an experienced Agronomist, and the Chief of the cooperative. There are cucumber sorting lines of the balance of the cooperative; now in peak season the cooperative members supply up to 10 tons of cucumber daily to UNIVER cannery. More than 50 jobs were created due to the emerged cooperative. The development of small rural business is the basis of economics in any developed country.

Service cooperatives are quite a new thing for the country market. They are doing their first steps now: the cooperative is economically weak, as the organizational structures are in the process of formation. This entity experiences more difficulties comparing to others adopting to market conditions. State authorities have prejudged opinion regarding to this form of cooperation; the producers do not understand this form of business too, they doubt the cooperative can function in the modern conditions.

DARY BEREGIVSHCHYNY cooperative is steadily going forward despite of the possible obstacles. The cooperative members actively participate in all seminars conducted by Zakarpattya office of the Agricultural Marketing Project, and they share experience of vegetable production among relatives and neighbors. Processing enterprises and input suppliers find it easier to work with the cooperative, as they can offer discounts for input purchase, interest-free loans and bonuses.