Farmers' Professional Co-operatives Research Articles

Taking Taian as an example, the research methods of comparison analysis and case analysis were comprehensively employed to systematically describe, analyse and summarise the sample charter an demonstration charter, issues concerning sample charter and statutory charter issues, establishment of business management organs and business management activities as well as the financial management situations in the 55 farmers'cooperative charters randomly selected by industrial and commercial administrations of Daiyue District, Xintai City, Feicheng City and Ningyang County.Through the research, the conclusion was drawn as follows:First, the comparison analysis between sample charter and demonstration charter of farmers'cooperatives shows the two have high-degree similarity. And the similarity of 77% of the charters reached 60%. The regional similarity phenonmenon shows strong signs in sample charter provisions, which reached 70.9% in the cities district and county. And the similarity in sample charter provisions reached 83% and 80% respectively in Ningyang County and Daiyue District. Those with similarity in sample charter provision content reaching over 60% accounts for 91% of the total sample surveyed. The diversity of sample charter provision in regulations only accounts for 9%. The reason for the high degree of similarity in sample charter and demonstration varies. Besides the fact that the promulgation of demonstration charter sets sound regulations for sample charter, it also shows the lack of full consultation in the drafting of charters, plagarization, perfunctorily managing for registration and low degree of participation by farmers in the management of farmers'cooperatives.Second, the comparison analysis in issues concerning sample charter and statutory charter issues shows that the statutory issues in the content of certain sample charters are incomplete and imperfect. And the random issues in most of the sample charters are lost. In 55 sample charters, 9 of them lack the statutory issues without 13 items, among which 8 charters lack announcement items and way of announcement, and 2 charters lack address, 2 charters lack procedures for charter amendment and one lacks financial management. This reflects from the other side of the brewing process that the charters are not fully developed, not seriously drafted. And people do not understand the importance for the charters. There do sexist the phenomenon of perfunctory management. At the same time, this also reflect the lax management by the registration agents in the procedures of examination and approval.Third, the analysis on business management agents and management activities shows that the inside management agent establishment basically reaches the statutory agent establishment standards. But the degree of participation by farmers in management activities is not high. In the samples, 31 farmers'meetings, board of directors(of director-generals), business management agents and board of supervisors(or executive supervisors ) have been established, which accounts for 56% of the samples. This shows over half of them are relatively perfect in agent establishment. Analysis shows that the degree of democracy in the management of farmers'cooperatives is low. There is no record of the time for farmers'meeting in15% of the samples surveyed. 56% of the samples record that the meetings are held once or twice annually. Only 29% of the samples record that the meetings are held four time every year. The degree for farmers to participate in major management activities is low.Fourth, the financial management of farmers'cooperatives analysis shows that: (1) farmer cooperatives financial disclosure is generally good, but there still exists some system missing in some sample charters. 51 samples have the regulations to regularly make public the financial situation, which accounts for 93%of the total samples. Four sample do not have content in this regard accounting for 7% of the samples. Accordingly, the financial disclosure statute that the farmer cooperatives are still required to further improve the focus. The time for farmer cooperatives'financial disclosure and the the fund scale of cooperative have some relationship. Under normal circumstances, farmer cooperatives with large-scale fund require a shorter period of financial disclosure; (2)The system for the protection of the rights and interests of farmers in cooperatives are still not tight. In all of the samples, 37 of them have clear specification the the assets of farmers can be transferred, which accounts for 67%. And 33% of the samples do not have the regulations which means that the right for assets transferring is not guaranteed. (3) Most of the sample charters have the regulations concerning surplus distribution. But the control of ratio for surplus distribution is not strict. Four charters do not have record of surplus distrbution or return ratio, which acounts for 8%.(4)This is not consistent with the law. And it will, more importantly, dampen the enthusiasm of members, reduce their trust of farmer cooperatives, damage the interests of members, and will alsogo against the principle of non-profit of farmers'cooperatives.Fifth, we think that the improvement of the charter of farmers'cooperatives and the regulation of the development of them are just two aspects of one problem, which are complementary to each other. Therefore it is suggested that efforts should be made to publicize the Law on Farmers'Cooperatives, raise farmers'awareness on their importance, guide the standard development of the cooperatives, improve the deliberation and drafting procedures of charters. And the charters should truly reflect the real demand of farmers. In practices, efforts should also be made to continuously expand the content of random issues, overcome similarity and reflct the diversity of demands, taking the promotion of farmer's democratic management, flesh out the content of financial management as top priority.