Society owners ignored

AS chairman of one cooperative society in East New Britain province I would like to express disappointment over the non-allocation of funds in the 2012 development budget for the development of cooperative societies through its implementation agency, the cooperative societies unit (CSU).
Cooperative societies have proven to be the ideal vehicle to mobilise people and resources to effectively participate in various business activities to improve and sustain their livelihoods.
It is the way to empowering the local people, who are the resource owners, to gain maximum benefits from their resources.
Farmers are now organised into cooperatives and doing group marketing where they are able to bargain with buyers and exporters for higher prices and transport subsidies.
Some cooperatives are in the export business.
I am appealing to the government, especially the minister for commerce and industry, to ensure funds are allocated for the development of cooperative societies.

Michael Mago,
ENB