By Pfumelani Tsedu
Forty-five Small, Micro and Medium Enterprise (SMME) owners including potato farmers were trained on forming of cooperatives.
Cooperative Enterprise Development (CED) directorate under Branch: Economic Development, Trade & Marketing (EDTM) organised the training through which the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) had facilitated the training on 6-8 June 2023. The training, with specific target for Molemole potato growers where the event was held at Ga-Tibu village in Molemole Local Municipality, focused on how to start a cooperative from a primary level to the secondary cooperative with reference to Molemole Potato Farmers.
The training further comprised of cooperative business model, outlining what is a cooperative, its values and principles, how it differs from other forms of businesses, types of cooperatives, models, benefits of forming a cooperative, registration requirements and the importance of good governance.
The benefits of forming cooperative in reference to Molemole Potato Farmers include getting support through production inputs such as fertilisers, seeds, chemicals, and training, which some were provided for by EDTM.
Part of the CED’s mandate is to deliver and coordinate provincial cooperatives and enterprise development programmes by, amongst others, promoting rural business development financing, facilitate the establishment and support of cooperatives and to facilitate the development of rural enterprises and industries.
The training empowers participants with understanding that the development of rural enterprises and industries require much needed cooperatives.
