The Role of Cooperatives in Achieving Household Food Security in the Philippines

Abstract

This paper aims to present the roles and contribution of the cooperative to its member’s household food security. Cooperatives were created to protect the less powerful members of the society and provide for their needs by pooling their resources together. It helps improve the standard of living and quality of life of members and to take part of the wealth of the nation. It helps the community generate savings, income, investments, improves productivity, and increases purchasing power in order to achieve optimum social and economic benefits. The cooperatives’ role in achieving the food security of the community continues to be significant. The agricultural cooperatives in the Philippine are engaged in activities such as input supply, production, post-harvest, processing, marketing, credit and financing. Through these activities the members maximizes the utilization of economies of scale, cost-and risk sharing. Assistance was also given to cooperatives to improve their productivity, management and access to credit. The Philippine cooperatives contribute to the economic growth and development. As of December 2014, the cooperatives directly employed 201,255 persons and generated PhP313.8 billion total volume of business. Cooperatives play an important role in agriculture, food security and rural development. In order for them to continue to develop, there should be continued support and guidance by providing an enabling environment and processes for the cooperative movement’s progress.