Agricultural cooperativism

a collective practice for socioeconomic development in West Africa countries

Abstract

The research aims to verify the potential of agricultural cooperatives in Africa, to respond to food shortages, indicated by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), created in 1975, by 15 African countries. If, on the one hand, there is food insecurity, on the other, the hope of productivity, in the cooperative organization, strengthening the structure present in the countries of that Community, with 158,640 direct jobs, 5,937 indirect jobs and 467,735 self-employed workers. It means that this movement points to hopes to promote the effective organization of agricultural cooperatives, in the fight against food insecurity, in the generation of jobs and income. To answer this reality, the research relies on a qualitative approach, of a descriptive nature, as well as the verification of secondary and documentary data. Among the results obtained with the study is the need for cooperatives, led by farmers, in a process of self-management, aiming to reduce poverty and strengthen socio-economic development in Africa.

Keywords: Organization of rural producers; Food Security;Work and income.