The Role of Producers Organizations in St. Vincent & The Grenadines

A presentation done for training farmers on the establishment of agricultural cooperatives in 2011.

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Introduction

What the audience will learn in this

session.

•Why there is a need for producer

organizations now in St. Vincent and the

Grenadines.

•The functions of producer organization.LDA 2

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What the audience will learn in this session?

•The general set up of producer organizations.

•Networking producer organizations

▫National

▫Regional

▫InternationalLDA 3

Why is there a need for producer organizations in St. Vincent & The Grenadines

•The current Government support civil society organizations to play a more important role in the political and economic context of the State.

•To play this role, producers need build up their capacity which was weakened by them being kept out of the decision making organs of the State.

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Why is there a need for producer organizations in St. Vincent & The Grenadines?

•The various Trade arrangements to which this State subscribes dictates that we improve our professionalization of our economic base.

•The objective of professionalization of economic base is to give the producers their deserved space in civil society.

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Why is there a need for producers organizations in St. Vincent & The Grenadines?

•Producers occupied space in civil society will allow them access to markets to which they are currently excluded.

•Producers organizations will integrate the general activities of all producers, so represented, into the general economy.

•Producers organization is the mouth piece of those represented.

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Principles that should Govern Producer Organizations: Producer organizations should be governed by the following basic principles.

1. Professionalism: This is a long process of structuring the producers profession. It comprises:

a. Starting new types of organizations with a mission to represent producers and to participate on their behalf in the formulation and implementation of rural development policies and programs.

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Principles that should Govern Producer Organizations: Producer organizations should be governed by the following basic principles.

1. Professionalism: (cont’d)b. The restructuring of producers

organization and turn them into profitable and efficient, professional units, freely managed by producers, that is, only producers, such as crop producers, livestock growers, fishermen, foresters etc. can be represented by these organizations.

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2. Universality:• Anyone who satisfies the criteria set for

the by the statutes on producers can become member of the producer organization (e.g) Pig farmers can join a Pig Grower Association, Fishermen can form the Fishermen Association, Loggers can form a Loggers Association, Craft can form a Craftsmen Association

Principles that should Govern Producer Organizations: Producer organizations should be governed by the following basic principles.

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3. Representation of all categories of producers?

• Each category of producers in the different production systems must be represented and can express its points of view to be taken into account to analyze problems and set producers policies.

Principles that should Govern Producer Organizations: Producer organizations should be governed by the following basic principles.

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4. Autonomy:• The freedom of producers organization

to choose their development goals, plans their own work programs and manage their resources, without the interference of others from outside.

Principles that should Govern Producer Organizations: Producer organizations should be governed by the following basic principles.

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5. Decentralization:• This system of representation and

decision making process must come from below.

• Decentralization is a necessary condition for the effective participation of producers and for the consideration of local realities.

Principles that should Govern Producer Organizations: Producer organizations should be governed by the following basic principles.

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Functions of Producers Organizations

Mission:

The basic mission of producer

organizations is to represent producers in

order to ensure their participation in the

formulation of policies and economic

development plans and programs.LDA 13

Mission (cont’d)

The accomplishment of the mission is

based on three principal functions-

(Consultation, Information and training of

members and support for professional

organizations of producers).

Functions of Producers Organizations

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Consultation:

This consists of communicating producers

views of their situation and that of the

sector and the other participating in the

formulation of producer policy and the

options to be considered in rural

development.

Functions of Producers Organizations

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Information and Training of Producers:The information function of the

organizations is directed to three types:•To facilitate the integration of producers

into markets.•To improve the quality of life of the rural

areas.•To ensure a better balance between towns

and countryside.

Functions of Producers Organizations

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Professional Organization of Producers

It is important that producers create their

own organizations, thus contributing to

the professionalization of their venture, a

basis for participation in development and

perfect integration into the market

economy.

Functions of Producers Organizations

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•The sovereign and constituent organs of a producer organization are formed by their elected members.

•The elected organs represent producers. They are defined in the laws creating producers organizations.

•they have rules of operation, decision making powers, policy and programs, and raise funds.

General set-up of Producers Organizations

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•The technical and operational organs are

under the authority of the elected organs.

•Their mission is to assist the elected

organs in the realization of their

objectives, activities, programs, in the

management of their funds, and in

preparing producers policy proposals.

General set-up of Producers Organizations

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Net-working Producers Organization

•Net-work is an institutionalized form of federation of producers, responsible for running the business of the net-work.

•The net-work can be organized nationally, regionally, or internationally.

•Net-working plays an informative role educating the producers about the economic environment, government’s policies, and establishing partnerships with other professional association.LDA 20

THE END

•God did not make this beautiful body called MAN by himself. He called up a committee and said,

“LET US MAKE MAN !”

We are the result of that cooperation.Together we aspire, Together we

achieve!LDA 21