Choves Loh
24 July 2008
The North West has a convincing story in the chequered history of the nation's Cooperative movement. In effect, the province is proud at a time when many cooperatives elsewhere have come to their knees.
In all, the number of Cooperative societies in the province has fluctuated over the years according to circumstances. We are told that between the 70s and 80s the North West Cooperative Association (NWCA) which is the Coordinating organisation of the Cooperative movement in the North West had up to 11000 tons of Coffee produce to show. Today it is a sad story with less than 1.000 tons assembled while authorities blame liberalisation which has set in cracks and cacophony with individuals who now go from door to door buying coffee in disrespect of set norms.
Cacophony in the sector is demonstrated by the fact that at one moment the province registered 16 coffee cooperative unions until the NWCA stopped affiliating more which were created as baseless units. It is regretted that the law on liberalisation encouraged the creation of structures that cannot break even, yet pass for cooperative societies without any economic activities. In the short and long of it, one can safely say that the timely check when NWCA stopped affiliating more cooperative unions helped North West Cooperatives to resist the collapse suffered by many in other provinces. Before then, it was common to find a cooperative society that barely handles 10 tons of coffee, yet managed an Administrative Board and staff. In such circumstances it could not be profitable. The sector was further weakened by the fact that many delinquent staff who lost their jobs later became enemies with fake evil stories about cooperatives to avoid settling their debts while it is also common to find managers of cooperatives without any farming experience.
Come what may, the Cooperative movement remains a blessing to inhabitants who believe in it as a creation of people who come together to meet their social and economic interests. The movement since took root in the province and its philosophy was buried in the traditional set up of the people and families who assembled and communed together. The philosophy was later reinforced with the Registrar of Cooperatives who used to travel from Enugu during the colonial period, precisely in the 40s preaching principles and practices of "modern" cooperatives. That perhaps, explains why at a time when most cooperatives are collapsing the North West still has 43 primary cooperative societies and seven secondary cooperatives unions to show in Boyo, Oku, Nso, Momo, Bamenda and Santa- Pinyin. Some people identify management problems and problems of dishonesty in the sector but many are still believers in cooperatives as the best way forward for farmers to benefit.
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