Dear editor,I would like to recommend the fact that cooperatives need to be formed if we are to realize rural development. The role of co-operatives in rural development depends largely on the aims of such development and on how co-operatives are defined and structured. It is argued that successful co-operatives at grassroots level need to be small-scale, democratically organized by the people themselves, and aimed at providing for the benefit of as many households as possible. The objective of rural development should be to provide a livelihood for people through small-scale production. The chances of success in this regard are slim given the constraints (such as land shortage) resulting from the policy of separate development. MUSANZE
