Why cooperative marketing in today’s context?

Cooperative comprises a number of people who come together to satisfy mutual socio-economic interests by carrying out a business activity. Cooperative marketing includes agricultural or ago-industrial production activities, trade co-operatives, housing co-operatives or savings and credit co-operatives. The members join together to use the cooperatives, goods, services and facilities. The number of members can increase their power by pulling their resources together. The members can buy, sell, and market their products as individuals or as a group. They can share profit within the group.  It is based on member owned. 

The services can include credit, sale of inputs and other products at low prices, housing or health programs and so on. It can help to community based private enterprises, help build open market and bring all kinds of people into the mainstream economy. It can promote to grassroots democracy and strengthen human dignity through self-help community activities. It is an effective and proven development tools in alleviating poverty and achieving social goals. It enable people to achieve lasting economic independence and economic prosperity. It also provide jobs, income, basic education and democratic experience.    

According to International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), “A cooperatives is an autonomous association of persons, united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise”.