Menjejaki amalan model perniagaan koperasi pekebun kecil sawit di Malaysia

Abstract

Abstrak

Koperasi pekebun kecil diwujudkan sebagai inisiatif bagi memperkasa kebajikan sosioekonomi pekebun kecil dan mengurangkan pergantungan terhadap pihak luar. Kurangnya pergantungan terhadap pihak luar akan meningkatkan aspirasi dan memelihara kepentingan pekebun kecil. Hal yang demikian kerana gerakan koperasi merupakan usaha kolektif individu-individu yang sama latar belakang dan matlamat untuk menjaga kepentingan secara bersama. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk mengenal pasti dan mendeskripsi model-model koperasi yang melibatkan pekebun kecil sawit yang wujud di Malaysia. Teknik temubual digunakan bagi melaksanakan proses pengumpulan data kajian. Informan kajian melibatkan wakil lembaga pengarah atau pengurusan daripada enam buah koperasi berkaitan pekebun kecil sawit. Pemilihan koperasi dibuat menggunakan kaedah persampelan bertujuan dengan menghadkan carian informan berpotensi berdasarkan senarai koperasi yang terlibat dalam sektor pertanian kelapa sawit.  Penemuan kajian merumuskan tiga bentuk model perniagaan koperasi yang dianggotai oleh pekebun sawit kecil di Malaysia iaitu model koperasi pekebun kecil sawit agensi FELDA dan FELCRA serta model milik pekebun bebas. Ketiga-tiga model koperasi ini mempunyai teras pelaksanaan koperasi iaitu menjaga kepentingan para ahlinya. Amalan koperasi berdasarkan model-model yang dikenal pasti ini memberi penumpuan kepada aktiviti keusahawanan, pengurangan risiko dan juga mengoptimumkan keuntungan. Kesemua amalan ini adalah bagi membantu para ahli memperolehi faedah dalam bentuk pendapatan dividen, perkongsian maklumat dan pengetahuan. Pemahaman berkaitan model-model koperasi yang ada dapat membantu memperkemas amalan pengurusan operasi sedia ada dalam usaha memberi faedah secara berkesan dan mapan kepada ahlinya.

Kata kunci: kelapa sawit, koperasi, model perniagaan, pekebun kecil, perniagaan, pertanian

Discovering the practices of palm oil smallholders’ cooperative business models in Malaysia

  AbstractSmallholder cooperatives were created as an initiative to empower the socio-economic welfare of smallholders and reduce reliance on outsiders. The lesser the dependence on external parties will increase the aspiration and preserves the interests of smallholders. This is because cooperative movements are the collective effort of individuals of equal background that aims to safeguard mutual interest. The objective of this study is to identify and describe the cooperative models involving smallholders in Malaysia. Interview techniques were used to carry out the data collection process. The informants comprise of the representatives of the board or management of six cooperatives related to palm oil smallholder. The selection of cooperatives was made using a purposive sampling method where the potential informants were chosen based on the list of cooperatives involved in the palm oil sector. The study findings summarize three forms of cooperative business models comprised of smallholders in Malaysia namely the smallholder cooperatives model of FELDA and FELCRA agencies and the models of independent planters. These three cooperative models have the core principle of cooperative implementation that is to safeguard the interests of its members. Based on the three identified models, the cooperative practices is found to be focuses on entrepreneurial activities, risk reduction and optimization of profits. All of these practices are to help members to earn benefits in the form of dividend income, information sharing and knowledge accumulation. An understanding of the existing cooperative models in Malaysia can help streamline current operation management practices to ensure delivery of effective and sustainable benefits to its members.

Keywords: palm oil, cooperative, business model, smallholders, business, agriculture