Cooperative Development Policy.

The Cooperative Development Policy is a national policy with a multi-sectoral approach. The objectives of the Policy are (i) social, economic and cultural development, (ii) socially equitable economic activities, (iii) access to resources freely, (iv) autonomy of cooperative movement, and (v) capacity building.
The strategies for cooperative development are voluntary and open membership, economic participation of members, member empowerment, access to information, transparency and accountability, employment protection and autonomy. Agricultural marketing cooperatives will be developed to transform farmers from subsistence farming to commercial farming. Regarding this, livestock cooperatives and rural financial services, marketing support will be provided and financial agricultural measures will be taken for self-help. Research will be conducted on quality improvement of agricultural products, production techniques, investments and expansions. Capacity building of farmers will be developed by education and training, by providing market information, as well as by enlightening on environmental issues and sustainable use of natural resources. Cooperation among cooperatives will be strengthened. Women participation in cooperatives will be encouraged despite traditional laws, customary values and any other constraints. In order to prepare the youth for self-help and self-employment, cooperative education will be added to the curriculum. Livelihoods of farmers will be increased through encouraging cooperatives by linking production with processing, marketing and maximum use of by-products.
This Policy will be evaluated regularly by the Government.