Rural cooperatives in Guatemala; a study of their development, and evaluation of AID programs in their support : vol. 1, summary and general evaluation

THE OBJECTIVES WERE TO DETERMINE MORE PRECISELY THE CHARACTERISTICS OF BENEFICIARIES OF THE PROGRAMS; THE KINDS, QUALITIES, AND IMPACTS OF SERVICES PROVIDED; THE RELEVANCE AND VIABILITY OF THE INSTITUTIONS OPERATING THE PROGRAMS; THE COST/BENEFIT RELATIONS OF PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS; MAJOR ISSUES RELEVANT TO PRESENT AND FUTURE SUCCESS OF PROGRAMS; AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT. THE REPORT PRESENTS SIX GENERAL FINDINGS OF THE STUDY: (1) IN SIX YEARS GUATEMALA HAS DEVELOPED A LARGE AND STRONG COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT SERVING SOME 50,000 FARMERS. THIS IS 10 PERCENT OF ALL FARMERS, AND 18 PERCENT OF FARMERS IN THE ALTIPLANO, WHERE THE BULK OF EFFORT HAS BEEN CONCENTRATED. (2) RURAL COOPERATIVES SUPPORTED BY AID ARE REACHING ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE LOW-INCOME TARGET GROUP. (3) THE AID INVESTMENT IN GRANT AND LOAN FUNDS HAS BEEN GENERALLY WELL UTILIZED. (4) THE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN MEETING THE AID OBJECTIVES OF ASSISTING SMALL FARMERS TO INCREASE PRODUCTION, IMPROVE LIVING STANDARDS, PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND INCREASE RURAL INCOMES; AND OF ASSISTING RURAL COOPERATIVES TO BECOME VIABLE, SELF-SUFFICIENT INSTITUTIONS. (5) THE PRINCIPAL SHORTCOMINGS HAVE BEEN OVER-CONCENTRATION ON SUPPLYING CREDIT AND FERTILIZER, WITH UNDER-CONCENTRATION ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, CROP DIVERSIFICATION AND MARKETING IMPROVEMENTS. (6) GUATEMALAN COOPERATIVES HAVE A LARGE POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER GROWTH IN MEMBERSHIP AND FOR BROADENING THE RANGE OF SERVICES OFFERED. THEY ALSO ENJOY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN GUATEMALAN HISTORY THE STRONG SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.