The basic principles of our organisational structure

The basic principles of our organisational structure

Farmer's organisations and the co-operative movement in denmark

The basic principles of our organisational structure, which forms the framework of Danish agriculture's activities in educational, technical, economic and industrial policy, came into being mainly in the course of the last century. There was co-operation, of course, in various ways in the old village communities before the 1800's.

Among other things, the community had to make decisions about farming the great common fields on the outskirts of the village to ensure that the individual strip-holders received their due share of what the land produced.

Moreover, the peasant community of the village had to defend itself against injustice, showing firmness and unity in resisting the oppression of manorial lords, the church and the power of kings. In this, as in other aspects of village life, a spirit of fellowship and co-operation developed with the necessary firm rules. This fellowship, deeply embodied in the convemions and customs of centuries, gives us a picture of mutual helpfulness, a sense of moral rights and a solidarity that can often surprise us today.. Indeed, in

several ways we can learn from historical writings about the Danish peasantry of centuries past.

If the co-operative fellowship of old village life is not the actual foundation of the modern agricultural organisations in Denmark, it is because this is mainly attributable to the great agricultural reforms towards the end of the 1700's. These created the foundation for liberal ideas to take root and grow in the whole farming community, and the years that followed witnessed a development so rich and rapid that it often aroused admiration even beyond Denmark's frontiers. Economic freedom for the individual peasant farmers was quickly followed by the consolidation of strip holdings into compact farms, and farmers moved out of the village to live on their own land. Gradually the independent free farmer emerged, making his own decisions and arrangements. It follows that Danish farmers have developed an individual strength of

character from the personal responsibility that lies in making far-reaching economic decisions.

In this, perhaps, lies the key to the origins of the many co-operative activities to be identified with the agricultural organisations of today.

Many farmers were alive to the importance of co-operation, and, in the course of a relatively few years, towards the end of the 1800's, so many effective co-operative activities started in so many different parts of the country that they inspired increased activity, strengthening what was already in existence and establishing new activities. The Danish Folk High Schools were a stimulating factor in this development. Voluntary foundation, independent of the State was a basic common factor, and nearly all the organisations have been built up 'from the grass roots' on local initiative, later, perhaps, combining with others into provincial and national status.

The essential characteristic is outstandingly democratic. There is no compulsion to join. The various associations and other organisations simply present themselves as an invitation to the individual farmer - and it is an invitation to which nearly every farmer responds. The majority, indeed, are members not merely of one organisation but often belong to several .