Evaluation report on status of cooperatives in Liberia - 1980; a report comparing the status of cooperatives in 1976, 1978 and 1980; annex A

Special evaluation covers the period 5/79-5/80 and is based on document review and site visits. For a description of specific achievements and recommendations, see the abstract of the attached PES (PD-AAJ-308). A rise since 1976 in the number of viable AC's (from 18 to 26), in the volume of produce sold through AC's relative to private agents (from 52% to 71%), and in the amount of sales (from $2.9 million to $19.7 million) shows growing farmer acceptance of AC's. Many earlier problems persist, however, although improvements have been made. More credit needs have been met, especially after Liberian AC operations took a major step forward with the beginning of operations in 1979 by the AC Development Corporation (ACDC); recordkeeping has improved (but is still not satisfactory); and improvements have been made in holding annual and board meetings and in assembling and handling produce. Money continues to vanish from AC coffers, but an active audit program by the Ministry of Agriculture's (MOA) Cooperative Division (CD) is beginning to relieve the problem. The Financial Advisor is helping AC's with purchase plans and some of the larger AC's with evaluations of loan requests to the ACDC. There is still no evidence of budgeting and planning by AC management. Overall conclusions are as follows: (1) Farmers do want AC's and benefit from them. (2) AC management is increasingly aware of the need for an agricultural apex organization to represent AC concerns over produce prices and credit to the ACDC and the Liberian Produce Marketing Corporation (LPMC) and to establish a viable farm supply network, provide bookkeeping and audit services, and assist in programs to improve AC management. (3) AC's are too often dominated by sub-agents who operate AC's for their own benefit. (4) Efforts to improve the quality of coffee and cocoa by establishing purchases according to grade of produce and to create an effective CD in the MOA have met with little success. (5) A means of monitoring prices farmers receive is needed, such as an LPMC requirement that all agents and sub-agents issue farmers a receipt for produce purchased.