A Comparison of Functional Dimensions of Dairy Cooperatives in India : A Case of Gujarat and Maharashtra

Co-operatives need to be managed on efficient and profitable lines. Well-managed co-operatives will not only surpass commercial private dairies in their economic and productivity impacts, but they are also likely to function as vehicles of development and change in rural economy. Well-managed and efficiently run co-operatives invariably produce outstanding impact on rural economies. However, when poorly managed, their social value is associated with diminishing returns and may even pale in comparison to commercial dairies which do not pride themselves in having any such social commitment. Efficient co-operatives produce ideal conditions along almost all social dimensions except capital mobilization in which commercial units have some natural and strong inherent advantages, with profit making being their sole and important force though consciously they do not work against social interest of dairy farmers. Poorly run c-operatives are their own worst enemies in this respect