Agricultural Trade Association:An Interest Representative not Economic Cooperation
农业行业协会:利益代表而非经济合作

Establishing and improving Agricultural Trade Association (ATA) on the background of agricultural policy liberalization is of great significance for protecting the interests of producers and enhancing the competitiveness of the agricultural sector and finally for increasing agricultural efficiency and producer's income. At present, it is still not academically clear about the organizational characteristics and the role of ATA, influencing the wealthy development and functional performance of ATA. From an economic and sociological point of view, the paper discusses comprehensively the organizational characteristics and functional roles of ATA, arguing that ATA is a non-profit self-managing organization in the agricultural sector, which should serve as a socially modulating organization between market participants and the government, rather than an economic cooperative. ATA does not involve itself directly in market competition, nor does apply itself to promoting economic cooperation of its members, but ATA should represent the interests of all organizations in the agricultural sector, including large specialty farmers. The government should use economic, legal and policy instruments to inspire and regulate the development of ATA.