SABIIA - Sistema Aberto e Integrado de Informação em Agricultura (Sabiia)

Hanson, James C.; Matavulj, Miodrag; Manzuk, Gregory; Richardson, John G..

Given the breakup of Yugoslavia and the ensuing war, there has been massive changes in the agricultural structure in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In particular, the remade cooperatives and the unions of cooperatives that are supposed to serve them are struggling. This paper examines the needs of the agricultural cooperatives to be more successful and identifies what support will likely come from the unions of cooperatives and what must come from other sources. Data was obtained in three ways: 1) questionnaires to a large group of cooperatives, 2) focus groups with a smaller number of cooperatives, and 3) personal interviews with union of cooperatives representatives. The findings indicated that the unions of cooperatives are working on institutional issues such...

South Africa’s new Cooperatives Act: A missed opportunity for small farmers and land reform beneficiaries

Palavras-chave: Bosnia and Herzegovina; Agricultural cooperatives; Union of agricultural cooperatives; Agricultural development; Agribusiness.

Ano: 2007

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/7344

Lyne, Michael C.; Collins, Ray.

Agricultural cooperatives are often viewed as appropriate vehicles to facilitate vertical coordination with, or horizontal integration between, small farmers who would otherwise be excluded from value-adding opportunities and discerning markets. In South Africa, renewed interest in development-oriented cooperatives saw the introduction of a new Cooperatives Act in 2005, along with support measures dedicated to ‘emerging’ cooperatives. This paper contends that the architects of the new Act discounted important trends in international legislation that would have made development-oriented cooperatives more versatile and given their members better access to capital and expertise through equity partnerships with private agribusiness firms. It is concluded that...

Tipo: Journal Article

Palavras-chave: Agricultural cooperatives; Small farmers; New institutional economics; Strategic partnerships; Land reform beneficiaries.

Ano: 2008

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/37551

Agricultural cooperatives II: Can they facilitate access of small-scale farmers in South Africa to input and product markets?

Ortmann, Gerald F.; King, Robert P..

The objective of this research is to investigate whether agricultural cooperatives can facilitate smallholder farmer access to input and product markets. Farmers in two case study communal areas of KwaZulu-Natal face high transaction costs as reflected primarily in their low levels of education and literacy, lack of market information, insecure property rights, poor road and communication infrastructure, and long distances to markets. Analysis of the reasons why cooperatives were originally established in various parts of the world suggests that most of the causes (such as poverty, market failure and high transaction costs) also apply to the study farmers, as do the seven international principles of cooperation. Smallholder farmers in both case study...

Tipo: Journal Article

Palavras-chave: Agricultural cooperatives; Small-scale farmers; High-value crops; Transaction costs; South Africa; Agribusiness.

Ano: 2007

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/10124

Serving Member Interests in Changing Markets: A Case Study of Pro-Fac Cooperative

Henehan, Brian M.; Schmit, Todd M..

Since the inception of Pro-Fac Cooperative (PF) in 1960, the cooperative has undergone significant structural and organizational changes. The PF case presents a unique opportunity to examine the changes in the processed fruit and vegetable industry and the strategies adopted by a producer-owned cooperative to best represent member interests in the face of the industry structural changes over the past fifty years. PF is an agricultural cooperative that markets crops primarily grown by its member-growers, including fruits (cherries, apples, blueberries, and peaches), vegetables (snap beans, beets, peas, sweet corn, carrots, cabbage, squash, asparagus and potatoes), and popcorn. Members are located principally in the states of New York, Delaware,...

Factors Affecting the Competitiveness of the Greek Wine Enterprises and Cooperatives

Palavras-chave: Agricultural cooperatives; Fruit and vegetable processing; Private equity firms; Boards of directors; Financing.; Agribusiness; Community/Rural/Urban Development; Crop Production/Industries.

Ano: 2009

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/48924

Konstantinidis, Christos; Sergaki, Panagiota; Mattas, Konstadinos; Kontogeorgos, Achilleas.

The present paper investigates the effect of certain economic factors on the competitiveness of Greek Wine Enterprises and Unions of Agricultural Cooperatives (UACs). Data on 41 wineries and 10 UACs of Greece was collected for a period of three years (2004-2006). Financial analysis results were used with the help of a fixed effect model-panel data technique- using profitability as dependent variable in order to measure the competitiveness of wineries. The results indicated that the size of the enterprise as well as the square of the capital intensity have a positive influence on the winery’s profit.

Manager Power, Member Behavior and Capital Structure: Portuguese Douro Wine Cooperatives

Palavras-chave: Competitiveness; Profitability; Wineries; Agricultural cooperatives; Agribusiness.

Ano: 2008

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/44391

Rebelo, Joao; Caldas, Jose Vaz; Matulich, Scott C..

Leverage is one of the most important financial factors to the survival and viability of agricultural cooperatives (e.g., wine cooperatives) during a period of intense competition. Leverage is influenced both by the behavior of managers and cooperative members. An empirical study for the Douro Demarcated Region Wine Cooperatives (DDRWC) supports the hypothesis that managers have a positive influence in the determination of the equity/total assets ratio and that individualistic behavior of cooperative members has a negative influence in the value of this ratio. This paper suggests that there may be value in reconsidering cooperatives in the context of a so-called Mediterranean model.

Tipo: Journal Article

Palavras-chave: Agribusiness; Agricultural cooperatives; Governance; Behavior and leverage.

Ano: 2008

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/101052

Agricultural Producer Cooperatives as Strategic Alliances

Gall, Roslynne G.; Schroder, Bill.

In this paper we examine the linkages between four bodies of business-to-business relationship theory (transaction cost analysis, the resource-based theory of the firm (RBV), social network theory and theories of trust and cooperation) to the design and governance of agricultural cooperatives. Defining a cooperative broadly as any type of alliance formed by producers for their mutual benefit, we base the discussion on three types of cooperative; traditional, "new generation" and learning networks. Our main focus is on cooperatives as an alliance between members, but we also discuss alliances between cooperatives We find that there is a gap in the literature relating to the analysis of alliances with more than two members (such as cooperatives), so the...

Tipo: Journal Article

Palavras-chave: Agricultural cooperatives; Strategic alliances; Transaction cost analysis; The resource-based view; Social network theory; Trust and cooperation; New generation cooperatives; Learning networks.; Agribusiness.

Ano: 2006

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/8141

The Emergence of Non-Traditional Cooperative Structures: Public and Private Policy Issues

Chaddad, Fabio Ribas; Cook, Michael L..

This paper examines new agricultural cooperative organizational models from an ownership rights perspective. We argue that new cooperative organizational models differ in the way ownership rights are assigned to the economic agents tied contractually to the firm members, patrons, and investors. The paper proposes a typology of discrete organizational models, in which the traditional cooperative structure and the investor-oriented firm are characterized as polar forms. Five non-traditional models are described and analyzed with implications to both private and public policy.

The Changing Political Dynamics of Japanese Agricultural Cooperatives

Palavras-chave: Agricultural cooperatives; Cooperative finance; Ownership structure; Property rights.; Agribusiness.

Ano: 2003

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/31799

Godo, Yoshihisa.

The system of agricultural cooperatives, collectively referred to as JA, is one of the most politically powerful organizations in Japanese politics. Based on its strong ties with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which has been in government for almost the entire postwar period, JA has lobbied the Japanese government to maintain its various restrictive trade policies regarding agricultural commodities. JA is regarded by many as being Japan’s biggest obstacle to further international trade liberalization. How has JA become so politically powerful, and will JA continue to dictate the position of the Japanese government in international trade negotiations? In order to provide clear answers to these questions, this study focuses on JA’s sociopolitical...

Rating de cooperativas agropecuárias: uma contribuição metodológica

Palavras-chave: Agricultural cooperatives; Small-scale farmers; Farmland-use regulations; Financial liberalization; Japan; Agribusiness; Agricultural and Food Policy; Q18; R52.

Ano: 2009

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/51400

Costa, Davi Rogerio de Moura; Bialoskorski Neto, Sigismundo.

The macroeconomic and agricultural policy instability in the agricultural sector increased the cooperative needs to obtain resources in the financial markets. However, because the asymmetric information problem among directors, members and market, a rating methodology classification is necessary. The aim of this article is to propose a rating methodology that could improve the financial markets orientation. The methodology was developed and after applied in São Paulo State agricultural cooperative and the results allow concluding that methodology is feasible and represent adequately the institutional reality.

Tipo: Journal Article

Palavras-chave: Agricultural cooperatives; Rating methodology; Brazil; Financial Economics.

Ano: 2005

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/55314

What will South Africa’s new Cooperatives Act do for small producers? An analysis of three case studies in KwaZulu-Natal

Nganya, P.; Lyne, Michael C.; Ferrer, Stuart R.D..

The new Cooperatives Act 14 of 2005 was promulgated in August 2005 to promote the development of sustainable cooperatives in South Africa and their use as a vehicle to develop small enterprises. This paper uses the new institutional economics (NIE) to highlight problems created by the Act. Case studies were done of three producer groups in KwaZulu-Natal that formally registered as cooperatives after August 2005. It is clear that the cooperative model was adopted because it was seen as a precondition for government support. All of these cooperatives displayed symptoms of institutional problems and two of them had mitigated these problems by shedding their poorest members and creating their own rules to reward investors with capital gains. The first of these...

Tipo: Journal Article

Palavras-chave: Agricultural cooperatives; Cooperatives Act; New institutional economics; Case study; Institutional and Behavioral Economics.

Ano: 2010

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/61996

Incentives to Efficient Investment Decisions in Agricultural Cooperatives

Russo, Carlo; Sabbatini, Massimo.

Recent studies have questioned the competitiveness of agricultural cooperatives in an industrialized food system, based on empirical results and economic theory. New organizational institutions have been proposed to overcome the cooperative main weaknesses (the so called new generation cooperatives). In this paper, we provide a simple model based on a financial approach to address the issue of cooperative competitiveness and to assess the investment efficiency of both traditional and new generation cooperatives. The main conclusions of the analysis are: i) cooperatives (both traditional and new generation ones) may have incentive to adopt projects that do not maximize the Net Present Value of the firm ii) the institutions of new generation cooperatives are...

MEASURING INEFFICIENCY IN THE PRESENCE OF AN EXPORT TAX, AN IMPORT TARIFF, AND A STATE TRADING ENTERPRISE

Palavras-chave: Agricultural cooperatives; Investment efficiency; Agribusiness; Agricultural Finance; Q13; Q14.

Ano: 2005

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/24455

The costs of equal land distribution: the case of the Israeli moshavim

Schmitz, Troy G..

Agricultural sales cooperative unions (ASCUs) in Turkey are heavily influenced by both domestic and international government policies. Both export taxes and import tariffs are used as policy tools to regulate cotton markets. Domestic price support programs, water subsidies, fertilizer subsidies, and credit subsidies have also been used as domestic policy tools. These types of subsidies are not uncommon among developing countries. This paper provides empirical estimates of the degree of economic inefficiency associated with government intervention in Turkish cotton markets. A two-region partial equilibrium model of cotton exports and imports is developed under the "small country assumption" to obtain empirical estimates of the deadweight welfare loss...

Tipo: Journal Article

Palavras-chave: Export tax; Tariff; Agricultural policy; Turkey; Cotton; Agricultural cooperatives; Welfare; State trading enterprises; International Relations/Trade.

Ano: 2002

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/15510

Berck, Peter; Levy, Amnon.

Published in: American Journal of Agricultural Economics, v.68:3, August 1986, p.605-614 [S1/J6] Giannini foundation of agricultural economics. Paper 753

The Greek Unions of Agricultural Cooperatives as efficient enterprises

Palavras-chave: Agricultural cooperatives; Income; Land; Land utilization; Land Economics/Use.

Ano: 1983

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/43304

Sergaki, Panagiota; Semos, Anastasios V..

This paper investigates the efficiency level of Unions of Agricultural Cooperatives (UAC) and Investor-Oriented Firms (IOF) in Greece. Data have been collected over a period of six years for UAC (1995-2000) and of five years for IOF (1995-1999). Financial analysis results were used with the help of 3SLS technique in a four equation simultaneous model in order to estimate those parameters, which would determine the efficiency level of the UAC and the IOF in Greece.

Tipo: Journal Article

Palavras-chave: Agricultural cooperatives; Investor-oriented firms; Efficiency; Simultaneous equations; Industrial Organization.

Ano: 2006

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/44110

ARE SOUTH AFRICAN CO-OPERATIVES CREATING VALUE

Hall, John H.; Geyser, J.M..

This article examines the use of Economic Value Added (EVA) as a performance measure that South African wine co-operatives can use to determine whether value has been created for members. A detailed explanation of EVA is given, and the components of EVA are calculated. The EVA's of a number of co-operatives have been calculated and analysed. In addition the EVA of specific types of co-operatives indicate that the fruit and vegetable sector is a constant value creator. It is clear that in order to create value, the rate of return on invested capital must be greater than the cost of capital. Certain co-operatives and types of co-operatives provided the blue print for this.

Collective Entrepreneurship: An Emerging Phenomenon in Producer-Owned Organizations

Palavras-chave: Economic value added; Agricultural cooperatives; Value; Economic model; Agribusiness.

Ano: 2003

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/18058

Cook, Michael L.; Plunkett, Brad.

This paper introduces and defines the concept of collective entrepreneurship. A review of the defensive single-level rent-seeking objective of traditional agricultural cooperatives is introduced followed by an analysis of recent studies documenting a shift in the objective functions of producers jointly integrating toward more multiple-level rent-seeking entities. This process of shifting from market failure-ameliorating collective action mechanisms toward rent-seeking group action organizations is labeled collective entrepreneurship. The justification for introducing this concept is based on the Olsonian premise that rational, self-interested individuals will not act to achieve their common or group interests without coercion or selective incentives.

Tipo: Journal Article

Palavras-chave: Agricultural cooperatives; Entrepreneurship; Agribusiness; Community/Rural/Urban Development; Labor and Human Capital; D23; D72; Q13.

Ano: 2006

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/43777

THE LESSONS FROM THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROBLEMS OF PRODUCTION COOPERATIVE IN BULGARIAN AGRICULTURE

Doitchinova, Julia M.; Kanchev, Ivan; Miteva, Albena.

In the paper are depicted the lessons and the problems of functioning and restructuring of cooperative structures in agricultural sector in Bulgaria during the pre-accession period (1995- 2006). The unsolved institutional and legislative problems of these structures are shown in details. The purpose of the paper is to analyze and assess the status of the cooperative structures active in the agriculture and to offer concrete suggestions for their further adaptation to the EU legislation implemented in this area.