ارائه مدل پارادایمی رکود تعاونی‌های تولیدی کشاورزی در استان کرمانشاه

ABSTRACT
Agricultural production cooperatives as a utilization system in the agricultural sector can play an effective role in rural and agricultural development. This grounded theory research presents a paradigmatic model for identifying the causes of stagnation in agricultural production cooperatives in Kermanshah province. The study population included managers of stagnant agricultural production cooperatives in Kermanshah province, selected using purposive sampling (n=22). The data collection tool was semi-structured interviews. This research conceptual model revealed that several factors contributed to the stagnation of these agricultural cooperatives. These factors include rising input costs and difficulties in accessing necessary resources, financial problems of producers, weakness of marketing and sales, and lack of economic efficiency and sufficient experience and expertise of some producers. The lack of infrastructure for the maintenance and processing of products, natural hazards, equipment failure as contextual conditions, and challenges such as limited access to credit, the difficulty of exporting, and the existence of brokerage as intervening conditions further exacerbated the situation. Some interactive conditions include the closure of production units, production with very limited capacity, and selling the product at a small profit and below the market price. As a result of these conditions, some production units faced the risk of bankruptcy and increased reliance on brokers. To address the issue of cooperative stagnation, several strategies were proposed; these included leveraging special credits to jumpstart production units, providing licenses to individuals with business experience, and encouraging investors in the province to establish and develop conversion industries, standard warehouses, and marketing cooperatives.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Nowadays, the development of agricultural production cooperatives is considered a crucial strategy for advancement in rural and agricultural sectors across various nations. However, in our country, although these cooperatives in recent years, competition has increased, especially in the food products industry. This, combined with a lack of proper implementation of the Cooperative Sector Law and general policies outlined in Article 44 regarding the transfer of state enterprises to cooperatives, as well as economic difficulties, has led to a significant number of production cooperatives in the agricultural sector stagnating or becoming inactive. Some have even reached the point of liquidation, posing a serious threat. Despite this, agricultural production cooperatives have the potential to make positive contributions to improving the structure of agricultural production through efficient management and reorganization in the sector. Despite this pressing issue, there has been a lack of comprehensive studies to identify the root causes behind the stagnation of production cooperatives in Kermanshah province. Thus, this qualitative research aimed to present the paradigm model of stagnant agricultural production cooperatives in Kermanshah province.
 
Methodology
This study utilizes a qualitative approach with a descriptive-analytical purpose. The data collection focuses on the grounded theory research method within qualitative methods. The study population included the managers of stagnant agricultural production cooperatives in Kermanshah province. The grounded theory method simultaneously incorporates purposive and theoretical sampling (n=22). In theoretical sampling, the process involves collecting data to develop a theory. The researcher collects, codes, and analyzes data simultaneously, determining which data to collect in the next step and where to find it, allowing the theory to emerge gradually. Data was collected through in-depth and semi-structured interviews until saturation was achieved. The analysis of the gathered data involved three key stages as open, axial, and selective coding. The study transitioned to the focal coding stage after completing open coding in the current research. During this stage, categories obtained in open coding were compared, and their characteristics were analyzed. An attempt was made to create these categories as conditional conditions, and the messages within the categories were adjusted accordingly. Additionally, a paradigm model was provided.
 
Results and discussion
The result of the application of grounded theory in this study was a conceptual model that showed the increasing cost of required inputs and lack of timely access, financial problems of producers, lack of economic efficiency of production in the agricultural sector, lack of cooperative culture and conflict of interests, lack of sufficient experience and expertise of some producers and the weakness of marketing and sales of agricultural products for production cooperatives had caused the stagnation of the studied cooperatives (causal conditions). The lack of infrastructure for the maintenance and processing of agricultural products, natural hazards and the difficulty of providing the equipment and facilities needed by production units as contextual conditions and the difficult conditions of obtaining credits and bank facilities, the difficulty of exporting agricultural products for production cooperatives, the ineffectiveness of programs The training of the cooperative administration and the existence of brokerage and mediation in the agricultural sector were raised as intervening conditions. As evident from the actions and reactions observed, there are significant consequences for the stagnant cooperatives being studied. The results of the interviews indicate that these consequences include changes in the use of production units, increased indebtedness to banks and bankruptcy, perception of the cooperative as useless, reduction in the production of certain agricultural products in the province, rise in brokering and mediation practices, higher unemployment rates in the province.
Conclusion
Given the numerous challenges and obstacles faced by agricultural production cooperatives, which often lead to stagnation and failures, there is a pressing need for strategic planning and policy-making to facilitate necessary reforms in these companies. This will help steer them towards achieving their cooperative goals. A key observation in a recent study was that lack of transparency and price fluctuations in agricultural products are the underlying issues affecting these cooperatives. Such unpredictable price hikes are detrimental to the producers and consumers, with the intermediaries being the sole beneficiaries. Therefore, the government must formulate and implement effective policies that guarantee the purchase of products from these cooperatives to mitigate the impact of price fluctuations.
The inefficiency of processing and conversion industries, inadequate cold storage facilities, improper storage practices, and the challenge of acquiring necessary equipment have contributed to the current predicament faced by these cooperatives. Consequently, producers must sell their products at significantly lower prices to avoid wastage. This unfavorable cycle ultimately results in the closure and stagnation of cooperatives. To effectively address this issue, attracting investments in the province that focus on developing processing industries, cold storage facilities, and warehouses that meet the standards required for storing cooperative products is crucial. By doing so, the revival and prosperity of production cooperatives can be facilitated. Furthermore, the hindrances faced in exporting products, the lack of a coherent export strategy, and insufficient support for exporting manufactured goods have been identified as additional challenges. To address this, the government should create an enabling environment that supports exports by providing production cooperative exemptions or reductions in customs tariffs. The Department of Cooperation, Labor, and Social Welfare can significantly provide the necessary assistance.
 
Funding
There is no funding support.
 
Authors’ Contribution
Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved the content of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none.
 
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
 
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.