Ações administrativas e participação social em cooperativa agropecuária: um estudo de caso em Minas Gerais

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to study the administrative actions and the social participation of the members of agrohusbandry cooperative. The study was based fundamentally on the concepts of social participation and helpfully on the concepts of cooperation and solidarity. The data of this study was obtained through research made by the author in one of the agricultural cooperatives ot the Minas Gerais State. In order to nave more libejrty in discussion and analyses of the data, th.e name of the cooperative was kept secret, The data obtained were the results from interview with questionaire application to members, inquiry of informations about the cooperative and taped intervier with th.e msnager and officers through a route previously elaboxated, using field note Besides personal observation, 66 members were interviewed in which 6 were directed to those possible substitutes. The first step analysis of the data consisted in characterizing - those administrative actions of manager as well as their influences on social participation of members. Secondly, the social participation of the members was analyzed from the viewpoint of production, management and enjoyment of the properties and services. Finally, the previous itens were confronted in an overall analysis of administrative actions and social participation. It was observed that the cooperative has been administrated as a mechantil enterprise, principally, by the necessity of competition in the market aiming at its economical growth. The operation with non-members has caused insatisfaction of the members because they enjoy member rights without contributing members duties in ex change as integralization of capital. The services offered to the members as well as the supply of input and articles of consumption are charged at prices aproximate to the market. The cooperative is diversifying its activities with resources coming from milking activity. The resulting benefits do not extend to the majority of the members who live on husbrandry only The preocupation of leaders with the growth of mounted structure has oriented the administrative actions to one economical direction, this also shown by the power concentration in the organs of administration. From the side of members were observed differente levels of participation in production management and enjoyment of the proper ties and services. The owners of larger area of land have been more benefited from the services offered by the cooperative. Meanwhile their opportunities of participation in production are bigger. As to management, it was observed that the members have little power of decision in the cooperative and are not invited during important decision of their interest. It was concluded that the cooperative as associativism form does not give their members equal social participation, reproducing in it a scene shown in society as a whole, concerning the opportunities of social participation.