Changes in importance and positions of agricultural producer owned organisations after EU accession

Szabó G., Gábor – Barta, István

Keywords: agricultural co-operation, producer organisation, producer group, marketing co-operative, EU-accession, trust

According to a recent (2011-2012) research project: “Support for Farmers’ Coopera-tives” which has been commissioned and funded by European Commission, DG Agri, agricultural co-operation is underdeveloped in most of the 27 European Union Mem-ber States, a statement that is especially true in the New Member States, like Hun-gary. The level of market concentration of producer owned organisations (like pro-ducer groups and producer organisations) and secondary co-operation is extremely low. The aim of this study is to give a critical overview of the changes of importance and positions of the sotermed “new type” agricultural (like purchasing, marketing, ser-vice etc.) co-operatives and other producer organisations. Advantages of co-operatives, as well as obstacles and requirements of successful co-operation are analysed also and the study concludes with recommendations for strengthening co-operation among ag-ricultural producers.

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