The purposes of this article are to promote the general welfare of agriculture; to enable producers of agricultural products, whether in the State of Alabama or not, to cooperate in the production, processing, packing, distribution, financing and marketing of agricultural products and in the manufacturing, supplying or selling of machinery, equipment, or supplies used in connection with the production of said agricultural products or in the financing of the above enumerated activities; and to enable such producers to organize incorporated associations with or without capital stock and not for profit but for service to their members by the organization and operation of such corporations by a simplified and inexpensive procedure for the promotion and accomplishment of such cooperative and the general welfare of agriculture.