Examining Socio-economic Impacts of Rural Cooperatives from Villagers Perspective

Rural cooperatives are popular institutions that, while having the characteristics of an economic unit, have social values and norms, and can show the cooperative efforts of members to achieve common goals and development. Considering the role that cooperatives can play in agriculture, increasing the rural production, providing other services and therefore in rural development, It is essential to analyze their socio-economic effects and functions in rural development on rural residents. This research is a descriptive research methodology and the data were collected through documentary and survey operations (questionnaire). Through sampling, from 6726 rural cooperatives’ members in city of Gonbad, 210 persons were selected. Research findings show that the creation of rural cooperatives has economic effects such as supplying and distributing goods, providing production inputs and credit facilities, buying and marketing agricultural products, and also social impacts such as raising the education level and awareness, human resource development and Creating a framework for participation among members of the cooperatives. Also, the overall results of the research indicate that the creation of rural cooperatives has a positive and meaningful impact on their members, but in comparison to their economic impact, the performance and social feedback of these cooperatives on their rural members are lower and weaker.