The agricultural credit cooperatives societies structure consists of two main types they are: 1. Specific agricultural cooperatives with only one purpose
The specific agricultural cooperatives societies structure consists of two levels, they are: (a) Cooperative societies at the village level
These societies are located in the villages. Egypt has 732 cooperatives, of which Menoufiya Governorate has 23 cooperative societies at the village level.(Table, 4 –
Chapter 4: Egyptian Agricultural Cooperatives________________________________ (b) Cooperative societies at the Governorate level
Egypt has 70 cooperatives, of which Menoufiya Governorate has 2 cooperative societies at the Governorate level. (Table, 4 – 2), (Table, 5 – 4).
2. Agricultural credit cooperatives for multi-purposes
The structure of agricultural credit cooperative societies for multi purposes consists of four levels, they are:
(a) The local cooperative societies
These societies are located at the village level. Egypt has 4263 societies, of which Menoufiya Governorate has 283 cooperative societies at the village level.(Table, 4 –
2), (Table 5 – 4).
(b) The joint cooperative societies, they are located at the district level. Egypt has 133 societies, and Menoufiya Governorate has 8 cooperative societies at the district level. (Table, 4 – 2), (Table, 5 – 4).
(c) The central societies: They operate at the governorate level. These are 22 societies in Egypt, and one society in Menoufiya Governorate. (Table, 4 – 2), (Table, 5 – 4). (d) The general society for agricultural credit at the national level. (Table, 4 – 2).
4.3.2.1. The local cooperative societies 4.3.2.1.1. Functional structure
The functional structure of the local cooperatives consists of the following two elements: 1. Labor:
It consists of:
• Permanent labor, which consists of agricultural supervisor and accounting clerk. • Seasonal temporary labor, which consists of security guards or wardens and daily
workers. 2. Board of Director It consists of:
• Chair of the Board. • Secretary of Board. • Members of the Board.
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Chapter 4: Egyptian Agricultural Cooperatives4.3.2.1.2. Main objectives and services
The main objectives and services of the local cooperative societies could be summarized in the followings:
• The provision of production inputs for members (fertilizers, pesticides, seeds and machinery).
• Guaranteeing members’ loan application at the banks.
• Marketing members’ production at best prices possible either through delegating the general meeting or contracting out with different marketing agencies.
• Setting up of collective or communal projects aiming at enhancing the economical and social level of the members such as dairy processing projects (small units), oil extracting mills, building of schools, distribution of chicks, rabbit batteries, beehives, bakeries, and iron-smith workshops.
• The provision of agricultural machinery, through either renting out or selling at lower costs.
• Participation in solving problems pertaining to irrigation and drainage for members. 4.3.2.2. The joint cooperative societies
The joint cooperative society includes in its membership between 6 to 8 local cooperative at district level.
4.3.2.2.1. The functional structure
The functional structure of joint cooperative societies consists of a Board of Directors and includes the following:
1. A chair of joint cooperative society. 2. A secretary of joint cooperative society. 3. A treasurer.
4. Members of joint cooperative society are the heads of local cooperative societies. 4.3.2.2.2. Main objectives and services
The joint society shall – with the assistance of its constituting societies in all fields – discharge its duties and create projects as may be of service to the local societies affiliated to it, and more particularly:
• Set up fixed or mobile workshops for the repair, maintenance and overhauling of all kinds of machinery, implements and equipment owned by the societies and their
Chapter 4: Egyptian Agricultural Cooperatives________________________________ members to ensure the best Operation of the implements; oversees the management and operation of these tools, and inspects them.
• Create agricultural-industrial projects, cottage industries; manage and operate them for the benefit of the affiliated societies.
• Create warehouses or refrigerators where production requisites shall be stored and crops preserved.
• Own operate means of conveyance and transportation to serve its members. • Participate in the cooperative marketing operations of the crops of its members. 4.3.2.3. The central cooperatives
4.3.2.3.1. The functional structure
The functional structure of the central cooperatives consists of the following: 1. The head of the central cooperative,
2. The Secretary of the central cooperative, 3. The treasurer,
4. Members representing local societies 4.3.2.3.2. Main objectives and services
The central societies support its constituent societies and help them in performing their functions, especially the following:
• Set up of a technical unit to control, supervise and inspect the administrative, financial, warehouse, bookkeeping works of the governorates societies. Moreover, the unit is responsible for suggesting optimum systems to run the financial, accounting and administrative systems.
• Set up a training center at the central level that would be responsible for cooperative, technical and administrative training for the members of cooperatives and their personnel.
• Set up of food processing projects, rural industries and their management for the benefit of their members.
• Disseminating cooperation awareness at the governorate level with all available means. • Provision of spare parts needed for machinery owned by societies and their members.
Set up of central workshops for repairs that couldn‘t be done at joint co-operative societies’ workshops.
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Chapter 4: Egyptian Agricultural Cooperatives4.3.2.4. The general cooperative society
This society is located at the national level. It is the top of the agricultural credit cooperatives structure in Egypt.
4.3.2.4.1. The Structure of the general cooperative society It includes in its structure the following:
¾ 4263 local societies at the village level ¾ 133 joint societies at the district level. ¾ 22 central societies at the governorate level. 4.3.2.4.2. Main objectives and services
The main objectives and services of the general cooperative society could be summarized as the followings:
• Provision of machinery, spare parts, input supplies for local cooperative societies • Cooperative marketing of local societies and their members’ production
• Exporting production for local societies and their members • Setting up projects on cooperation principles
• Providing services in the field of training, research, statistics and extension for affiliated units
• Following-up of cooperative activities for cooperative structural units, setting up cooperative policies and the implementation programs for these policies
• Coordinating relations between cooperative structural units.
• Setting up funds needed to support cooperative economic activities in the field of the agricultural credit.