State-Administered Rural Change Agricultural Cooperatives in Rural Kenya

Originally published in 1991, this book includes a detailed case study of Kenya’s co-operative movement – one of the largest in sub-Saharan Africa. Co-operatives have been given a major role in rural development strategies in both socialist and capitalist states. However in both context the results they have achieved have fallen short of expectations. The book focuses on specific elements of the institutional setting within which agricultural marketing co-operatives operate. Factors like land tenure, market regulations, co-operative legislation and direct development support are discussed and shown to have had dire effects on the managerial behaviour and social impact of the co-operative sector.

1. Introduction 2. Spread 3. Survival 4. Performance 5. Impact 6. Summary and Conclusions.

Björn Gyllström was Associate Professor of Economic Geography at the University of Lund, Sweden. He also worked for many years as a consultant in computer cartography and is the author of numerous publications on co-operative developments in Africa including: Guidelines to Integrated Project Planning and Management, Min. of Co-operative Development, Research and Evaluation Unit, 2nd Revised Edition. Nairobi 1981. System for Monitoring and Evaluating Farm Input Supply Scheme, Phase II. Min. of Co-operative Development, Research and Evaluation Unit, Nairobi 1980. Performance and Impact of Integrated Co-operative Societies in Western Province. Ministry of Co-operative Development, Research and Evaluation Unit, Nairobi 1980. Base-line Study FISS - Kitui Project Area. Min. of Co-operative Development, Research and Evaluation Unit,Nairobi 1981. Principal Elements of a Performance and Impact Analysis of the Co-operative Movement. Min. of Co-operative Development, Research and Evaluation Unit, Nairobi 1981. Socio-Economic Conditions and Co-operative Development Options in Lesotho.A study conducted on behalf of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Maseru/Lund 1981. Participation and Rural Development. Review of International Co-operation. Vol. 76, no.1, ICA, Geneva 1983. Division of Labour, Specialization and Technical Change (co-editor). Liber 1986.