Moves are underway to propel the re-emergence of the cooperative sector as a major player in building the national economy.
Consultative forums for cooperative groups that will start next week are part of a bigger plan to boost cooperative numbers from 385 to 900 by next year.
It will also bring to fruition Pillar 5 of the People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress,which is: Achieving higher economic growth while ensuring sustainability.
Cooperatives director Sevanaia Bilivalu said at these forums cooperative groups would be advised on the way forward for the cooperatives sector.
The way forward involves a shift from purely retailing processed foods as village shop cooperatives are known to do, to cooperatives that are agricultural resource based.
“We want cooperatives to focus more on agricultural crop production, even fisheries, or forestry or resource based and dealing in exports,” Mr Bilivalu said.
“We have some of these kinds of cooperatives but the issue here is growing the numbers.”
In the mid 1980s, cooperative numbers hit 900 but the numbers began to drop a decade ago because it became characterised as a business for just the elderly and interest from youth groups was minimal.
“Profit margins were also not much, so venturing into a cooperative business didn’t look so attractive,” he said.
“With the revitalisation of the sector to become a tool for economic growth we want to adopt new models of cooperative and transform them into economically viable and sustainable units.
“We believe the way to go is resources based businesses selling dalo, kumala and vegetables because the focus of Government now is to promote exports so they can earn higher incomes and improve their living standards.”
The International Labour Organisation will assist with models of cooperatives that are working successfully in the region for local adoption.
A successful local example that will be promoted at the consultative forums is the model from Lutu, Naitaisiri.
Consultative forums will also move to the Western and Northern Divisions.
Quick Facts:
Forum Dates Central Division:
Tuesday (Aug 2nd, 2011) – Cooperatives Office (Raojhibhai Street)
Thursday (Aug 4th) – Navua (For Namosi, Serua Province)
Friday (Aug 5th) – Naqali community hall
Tuesday (Aug 9th) – Commissioner Central
Thursday (Aug 11th) – Korovou Hotel
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