Review article

COOPERATIVES IN CROATIA:CHALLENGES TO STABLITY OF FARMS

M. Tratnik

Abstract

The objective of the paper is to present cooperative organisation of small family in Croatia. There is a brief review of historic development of farming cooperatives and the present status of family farms according to their size. Although family farms are a key factor of development of agricultural production they have not had due prominence in the agrarian policy, they are fragmented, and gradually decaying. These shortcomings can be overcome in a cooperative concept. The main advantages, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to Croatian cooperatives are given. The subject of the research is also how family farms perceive cooperatives and based assumptions try to rank priorities. The results show that cooperatives are considered distribution channels for farm produce and that they do not curb entrepreneurial freedom of family farms. Stressing the importance as channels for the sale of farm produce gives cooperatives a role of „ saviours“ in times when it is difficult to sell farm produce by personal initiative alone.

Keywords

cooperatives; family farms; cooperative organisation

Hrčak ID:

18202

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/18202

Publication date:

23.2.2007.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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