Improving Institutional Capacity:
Strengthening Farmer Organizations in the OIC Member Countries
95
2. Does the government have a body with the specific mandate to work with farmer
organizations?
Group Country Y/N Source Comments
Kazakhstan 
The Ministry of Agriculture in Kazakhstan does not have a
department dedicated to strengthening farmer organizations.
However, In 2007, the Ministry of Agriculture established
KazAgro Holding (KA) and KazAgroInnovations (KAI). These
two institutions are responsible, amongst other things, for
providing support to farmers.
Malaysia 
Ministry of
Agriculture and Agro-
Based Industry
(2014)
There are two governmental bodies responsible for working
with FOs in Malaysia: (i) Department of Agriculture, also
known as Jabatan Pertanian in Malay and established in 1905;
(ii) Farmers' Organization Authority of Malaysia, also known
as Lembaga Pertubuhan Peladang (LPP) in Malay.
Asian Countries (continued)
Maldives 
Ministry of Fisheries
and Agriculture
Agriculture and Forestry Division is located within the
Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture. Its mandate related to
strengthening FOs is through provision of Training and
Extension Services to farmers. Also located in the Ministry of
Fisheries and Agriculture is the Agriculture Advisory Board.
Azerbaijan 
"There do not seem to be many farmers-based associations
and agricultural cooperatives in Azerbaijan," and there is little
support for them. There are agencies under the Ministry of
Agriculture that provide consulting services to farmers but no
distinct body with such a mandate. There is a World Bank-
financed project (2011-2016) supporting the Water Users
Associations. In addition, the Government has recently
adopted a bill for the creation of agricultural cooperatives and
cooperative unions with the expectation that this step would
change Azerbaijan’s GDP structure and contribute to a new
stage of agrarian reforms. Azerbaijan Dairy Processors
Association. Livestock Farmers Associations (3). Azerbaijan
Hazelnut Farmers Association. Agro investment Credit Union
(founded in 2001 by a group of 32 Imishli farmers, and has
since then grown into the largest credit union in Azerbaijan,
wholly owned by its more than 3,500 borrowers with a
portfolio of about US$ 5 million.).
Pakistan 
Pakistan does not have a specific department that is mandated
to work with FOs. There are various associations / agencies
that are primarily response for research and regulatory
controls.
Tajikistan 
Agroprom is a Department under the Ministry of Agriculture.
The primary mandate of Agroprom is to work with FOs in
Tajikistan. However, its work is limited to supervisory services
and data collection for statistical purposes. There other public
bodies that offer support to farmers in Tajikistan. They co-
exist with other private sector firms that also provide
agricultural extension to farmers.
Turkey 
Turkish Cooperatives
Strategy and
Action Plan 2012–
2016
Republic Of Turkey Ministry Of Customs And Trade Directorate
General of Cooperatives
Suriname 
Government of
Suriname
Based on information from the government website and FAO
there does not seem to be any department dedicated to
assisting Farmer Organizations in the country. The Ministry of
Agriculture
Uzbekistan 
Agricultural Service Centre and Rural Advisory Service are two
government bodies responsible for supporting farmer
organizations and individual farmers in Uzbekistan. Part of
the responsibilities of these state bodies is to provide
agricultural extension to farmers.