Cooperative unions in Amhara regional state have officially opened an exhibition and conducted symposium with the theme “marketing of cooperative unions for our renaissance” that is scheduled to stay till June 8, 2017, Amhara Cooperative Unions Expansion Agency said.
Agency General Manager, Tiliksew Yitayal, said the region has undertaken various activities for the expansion and proliferation of cooperative unions. This has given rise to 67 cooperative unions and more than 12 thousand associations with 3.4 million members and about 2.7 billion birr capital.
More than 3.3 million quintals of agricultural inputs annually are provided by the cooperative unions in the region and they have created job opportunities for more than 18 thousand people so far, she noted.
Governmental and non-governmental bodies working with the cooperative unions and those engaged in the supply of finance for provision of agricultural inputs should make unreserved effort to create market access for cooperatives.
The cooperative unions have contributed a great share for the performance of the first growth and transformation plan and are still playing a key role in the ongoing realization of the second phase and supply of inputs, technology and financial support for the farmers.
They also have attained encouraging results in inducing the culture of saving within the society both at rural and urban levels during the last few years, she added.
Various studies conducted on the performance of cooperative unions in the region are presented at the symposium and a billboard depicting their journey is inaugurated by the president of the region.