Determinants of farmers’ membership of cooperative societies in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State Nigeria
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Date
2008
Authors
Oboh, V. U.
Lawal, W.L.
Agada, M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Cooperative Economics and Management, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State
Abstract
This study was carried out in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State. It examined the socio-demographic factors affecting farmers' membership cooperatives. A multi-stage random sampling technique was employed to select sample size of 90 farmers as respondents. Structured questionnaires were used to collect relevant information from the sampled respondents. Data analyses were carried out using statistics such as frequency counts, percentages and the regression model. Results showed that the major types of cooperatives in the study area include the multipurpose, thrift and credit as well as agricultural in supplies cooperatives. Respondents also identified mass media, friends/relatives (and community development associations as key sources of awareness about cooperatives. The log it model identified age, sex, level of education and annual income to be significant in explaining the probability of farmers' membership cooperatives. The major constraints faced by members of the cooperatives include; inadequate savings, poor access to farm inputs and lack of government support. It is recommended that more efforts should be intensified by extensive agents to further educate farmers on the importance of forming and joining cooperatives. Government and non - governmental organizations (NGOs) should assist farmer-cooperatives through the provision of soft loans and agricultural inputs at subsidized rates.
Description
Scholarly Article
Keywords
Cooperative Societies , Farmers , Multipurpose , Socio-Demographic Factors , Thrift and Credit , Research Subject Categories::SOCIAL SCIENCES::Social sciences::Education
Citation
Oboh, V. U., Lawal, W. L. & Agada, M. (2008). Determinants of farmers’ membership of cooperative societies in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State Nigeria. Nigeria Journal of Cooperative Economics and Management. 4(1), 27-33.