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Agricultural Cooperatives in Eurasia

Policy Studies on Rural Transition No. 2014-3

Year of publication 2014

Pages 19 p.

Author Lerman, Z. ;Sedik, D.

Product type Document

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Across Eurasia there is an immense divide in the development of agricultural cooperatives between the countries of the European Union and those of the Commonwealth of Independent States and Georgia (CIS-G). This gap can be seen in the differences in the spread of cooperatives within agriculture, in government policy and in the enabling legislative environment. The divide is supported by a basic conceptual and experiential distinction that existed during the socialist period and which continues t o exist in modified form between the two parts of Eurasia today. This paper will analyze the divergence in the development of agricultural cooperatives in Eurasia. It begins with the question of why cooperatives are needed, of what problems they solve. It then describes the divide within Eurasia on agricultural cooperatives, starting with concepts, and illustrating differences in the spread of cooperatives across the region, government policies and enabling legislation. A conclusion summarizes p olicy recommendations to bring the useful experience of the international cooperative movement to bear on agricultural cooperatives in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and Georgia.

Language English

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