COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT

CAC WILL CONDUCT A PROGRAM OF TRAINING COURSES AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT SOCIETIES, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION CO-OPS, INPUT SUPPLY CO-OPS, MARKETING CO-OPS, AND AN INTER-COOPERATIVE MARKETING SYSTEM. PROJECT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN 3 PHASES. PHASE 1, COVERING ONE YEAR, WILL CONCENTRATE ON 47 GEOGRAPHIC AREAS IN THE SOUTHERN HALF OF URUGUAY. A SHORT COURSE WILL BE CONDUCTED FOR 30 CO-OP LEADERS IN EACH AREA. AT THE SAME TIME, A SHORT COURSE WILL ALSO BE CONDUCTED FOR 50 CO-OP MEMBERS, RURAL PRODUCERS AND AGRICULTURAL WORKERS IN EACH AREA. TWO CONFERENCES WILL BE HELD IN EACH AREA. LECTURES, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND FILMS WILL BE PRESENTED ON PRODUCTION METHODS, MARKETING TECHNIQUES, AND GROUP DISCUSSIONS WILL BE HELD TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. 200 WILL ATTEND EACH CONFERENCE. THE SECOND ONE-YEAR PHASE, DUPLICATING THE ACTIVITIES ON PHASE ONE, WILL CONCENTRATE ON 33 AREAS IN THE NORTHERN HALF OF URUGUAY. THE THIRD PHASE WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY CAC WITHOUT USAID"S SUPPORT. AREA COMMITTEES WILL BE ESTABLISHED TO CONTINUE SIMILAR ACTIVITIES. CAC WILL ALSO CONDUCT A MASS MEDIA PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN. CAC WILL PUBLISH A MONTHLY NEWSPAPER "URUGUAY COOPERATIVES," AND A SERIES OF PAMPHLETS AND POSTERS. SURVEYS OF EXISTING CO-OPS WILL BE CONDUCTED. CAC WILL ESTABLISH A TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE MADE UP OF PROFESSORS, TECHNICIANS, CONSULTANTS, LECTURES, AND OTHERS REQUIRED TO CONDUCT THE CONFERENCES, COURSES, AND SEMINARS. URBAN AND RURAL CO-OP MEMBERS WILL BENEFIT FROM STEADY PRICES, RELIABLE TRANSPORT, AND INPUT SUPPLY, AND A GUARANTEED MARKET. PARTICIPATION OF LOW INCOME GROUPS IN SECOND CLASS CO-OPS WILL ALLOW MORE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME THROUGH THE ELIMINATION OF UNNECESSARY MIDDLEMEN AND MORE BALANCED MARKET NEGOTIATIONS THROUGH VOLUME PRODUCTION.