Question 3
(a)(i) Define distribution of goods.
(ii)llustrate the normal chain of distribution of goods.
(b)Describe a consumers’ cooperative society.
(c)Outline any four roles performed by a consumers’ cooperative society.
This question was the quite popular with the candidates and was attempted by nearly all the candidates. Most candidates could define distribution of goods and iilustrate its normal chain but only few them could not adequately explain the roles performed by consumers’ cooperative society in the (c) part of the question. Candidates were expected to answer thus to obtain maximum marks:
(a)(i) Distribution of goods is a process of making goods available to the final consumer.
(ii) Goods are transferred from the producer or manufacturer to the wholesaler who in turn transfers the goods to the retailer and from the retailer to the final consumer OR
Producers/manufacturers → Wholesalers → Retailers → Consumers.
(b) A consumer cooperative society is an association formed by a group of consumers with similar interests for their mutual benefit.They pool their resources to buy goods in large quantities from the distributors or manufacturers or from government agencies.They sell mainly to their members. Members participate in the running of the society and are rewarded according to patronage and interest is paid on capital contributed.
(c)(i) They make products available wherever their members are.
(ii) They make essential commodities supplied by government agencies available to their members at affordable prices.
(iii) They help in breaking the bulk and sell to members at retail quantities and prices.
(iv) They protect their members from exploitation by middlemen who may want to sell at exorbitant prices.
(v) They act as agents to government agencies to market and distribute their products.
(vi) Theyassist members by selling products to them on credit.
(vii) They educate and train their members.