The following suggestions and recommendations were made:
Society level
· Ensure infrastructural facilities are in place.
· Set up an effective database and local data collection system.
· Implementation of IT applications along with e-learning, e-commerce, human resource development and the introduction of software to strengthen cooperative business activities.
National level
· A clear policy is needed for setting up a database with a standardized format and data collection process.
· The data format should include business development planning and ACED.
· Identify a national nodal officer or organization to study the system of computerization for ACED and coordinate data collection.
· Identify and assess IT capacities within the agriculture cooperative sector for computerization and technical assistance requirements.
· Assess training needs and determine types of internal/external support needed.
· Develop standard software for database formats and business development planning to ensure uniformity in national networking in support of primary agricultural cooperatives/rural SMEs.
· Ensure continuity of data flow and analysis on primary agricultural cooperatives and rural SMEs at the central level to be provided on a regular basis to planners and decision-makers.
· Prepare action programmes for computerization of all agricultural cooperatives within five years and preferably to reach ten percent within the first year.
· A national human resource development programme on business development planning is required to be strengthened with a training module.
· Ensure that data is provided to FAO-NEDAC by at least 30 June each year.
FAO-NEDAC
· Possibilities may be explored to obtain support from other international agencies to strengthen human resource development programmes.
· A joint data collection format developed and discussed at the 2003 Kathmandu meeting has been adopted.
· It is proposed that FAO-NEDAC engage a technical consultant to support the task of data collection and to prepare an analytical report which compiles data gathered from national nodal points. The report may be titled Data Bank or Yearly Snapshot or Overview on Agricultural Cooperatives in FAO-NEDAC Countries.
· A standard software has to be developed for the integration of data at the national level.
· Efforts should be made to organize a cooperative ministers' meeting on ACED.
NEDAC collaboration with FAO
· Promotion of IT at the primary agricultural cooperative level and for regional data collection based on the FAO-NEDAC format; development of related software. FAO should provide technical and financial support through projects and regular programmes.
· A joint FAO-NEDAC brief on the subject should be prepared for government members.
· FAO was requested to provide necessary technical and financial support for implementation of the action plan adopted by the meeting.
Visit to successful agricultural cooperative enterprise/CPD regional office, Chiangmai
The participants visited the Sarapee Agricultural Co-operative Ltd. located in Sarapee district of Chiang Mai, which is exporting fresh and dried fruits to China and other Asian countries. They also visited the Regional Office of the Cooperative Promotion Department at Chiang Mai and were briefed on general cooperative developments in the region.
Concluding remarks
In his concluding remarks Mr Polman noted that the meeting was a major event as it marked the first time NEDAC members came together as a group to decide on a joint format for computerization of cooperatives as a collaborative project. He thanked the resource persons for their contributions which had made a fruitful outcome possible.
Mr Rai closed the meeting by noting that the agreement on the data format was just a start. The group had not yet compiled standardized and sufficiently detailed information about IT in agricultural cooperatives. To transmit information from the lowest level in cooperatives in the rural areas to the national level requires a lot of work, and he hoped that computerization would be a success. He mentioned that all NEDAC members need to identify a nodal agency at the national level.
Observing that cooperatives have to compete with other government departments for shrinking budgets, he urged the cooperative sector to make its voice heard. It was agreed that the NEDAC Chairperson would write to the members and heads of cooperative departments, encouraging them to ensure continuing support for agricultural cooperatives.
