The research work on the topic “the effects of cooperative societies in Agricultural development in Nigeria (A case study of Ezeagu L. G. A Enugu State Co-operative as was carried out to survey the past programmes and polities constituted by government to mobilize peasant farmers into agricultural co-operative and functional ones more productive as a way of facilitating the attainment of self-sufficiency in agricultural productivity in the country. The general constrains that affect the achievement of the objectives in Ezeagu local government area was identified. These include ill conceived and inefficient extension services, inadequate farm storage facilities and organized marketing outlets, use of crude farming implements. Complex land tenure system, non-restriction of membership which might bring in people of questionable characters whose membership may lead to the down fall of the society among others.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Approval page ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Abstract v

Table of contents vi

CHAPTER ONE

1.0Introduction

1.1 Background of the study

1.2 Statement of Problems

1.3 Objective of the study

1.4 Importance of the study

1.5 Scope and Limitation of the Study

1.6 Research Questions

1.7 Definition of terms

CHAPTER TWO

2.0Literature review

CHAPTER THREE

3.0Research Methodology

3.1 Population of the study

3.2. Sources of data

3.3 Primary Sources

3.4 Secondary sources

3.5 Method of Investigation

3.6 Method of data analysis

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0Data Presentation

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0Summary of Findings

5.1 Recommendations

5.2 Conclusion

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

In developing countries as in the case of Nigeria, Agriculture dominates the nation’s economy. It has been established that about 70 percent of Nigeria population is engaged in Agriculture (Obasi and Agu, 2000) while 90 percent of Nigeria total food production comes from small farms and 60 percent of the country population earn their living from these small farms (Oluwatayo et al, 2008).

The recent importation of food items into the country to make up for the shortfalls in food supply is a dangerous indication of dwindling farm productivity and a warning sign that if the nation continue with business as usual, the prospect of food security will be bleak for millions of people (Nweze, 2003). The fall in agricultural production could be attributed to inadequate infrastructure, under mechanisation and inadequate finance (Oshiokoya, 1987). According to Ojo (1998), one problem confronting small scale enterprise including that in agriculture is inadequate capital. The word co-operative can have different interpretation. In a layman’s language, it means working together on working mutually. The second interpretation , which is where the emphasis means a special type of co-operative. The co-operative has been defined by different schools of thought but the various in the degree of emphasis on one aspect or the other.

The school of thought describes co-operative as business undertaking owned and operated by voluntary associations in order to provide themselves with work and wages or with goods and services. But the International Co-operative Alliance (I C A) defined co-operative as an autonomous association of persons, limited voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprises. The role of co-operative in agricultural is an important topic of study but already much has been done by co-operators to justify its prime role of score securing economic and political development particularly in developed countries like England known for consumer co-operatives. France known for industrial co-operative and Germany known for credit co-operative. Co-operative movement is world wide phenomenon. It has developed from simple traditional form(s) of mutual institution of modern formally organized institution. This institution gained world wide acceptance because of the grate role. It has been playing in the economic development of various countries particularly in the developing countries. The improvement of agricultural production through co-operative inevitable has social effects. Co-operative management bring better yield which in turn yields better living standard, better housing, better education for members and their families. This economic success of co-operative society has been witnessed invaluably in co-operative studies.

In Enugu State, most inhabitants survive through and the main occupation is substantial farming, which attracted interest many co-operative societies, both existing ones and new initiated ones. Improving the agricultural production was their main target and interest and at the same time lifting the level of its individuals. Improvement target was both in size and qualities were poor and could not be marketed most of the crops having pest scales and most couldn’t grow well in other to produce as expected. The product that were severely affected were yam tubers, cassava stems and tubers, cocoa yams, vegetables.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Nigeria had embarked on various programmes and policies costing hundreds of millions of naira aimed at reviving the depressed agricultural sector.

In view of this, agricultural co-operative was instituted so as to organize the small scale farmers who are still involved in manual labour type of farming in co-operative and had failed to produce enough food for our teeming population thereby the country to be involved in importation of large quantity of food with a huge percentage decline in agricultural exports.

All those governmental effort have not actually had much significant improvement in this sector as much emphasis now being placed on agriculture. The call for urgent re-examination of the role of these agricultural production sure it’s aim of facilitating the attainment of self-sufficiency in agriculture and making agriculture to take its prime position in the national economy of this country in danger.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The general purpose of this project work is effect of cooperative societies on agricultural development with particular reference to selected cooperative societies in Ezeagu LGA Enugu state.

Finally, the study has the following specific objectives:

(a) To examine the role of cooperative societies in Agricultural development in Ezeagu LGA of Enugu state.

(b) To examine the effect cooperative societies on Agricultural productivity in Ezeagu LGA.

(d) To suggest pragmatic ways and means for enhancing the effectiveness of these cooperative societies in the area.

1.4 Research Hypothesis

The following research hypothesis were formulated by the researcher:

Ho: Cooperative societies have no role to play in Agricultural development in Ezeagu LGA of Enugu state.

H1: Cooperative societies have a significant role to play in Agricultural development in Ezeagu LGA of Enugu state.

Ho: cooperative societies have no effect on Agricultural productivity in Ezeagu LGA of Enugu state.

H1: cooperative societies have a significant effect on Agricultural productivity in Ezeagu LGA of Enugu state.

Ho: There is no problem facing cooperative societies in Agricultural development in Ezeagu LGA of Enugu state.

H1: There are lots of problems facing cooperative societies in Agricultural development in Ezeagu LGA of Enugu state.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Agriculture is so importance in order to sustain any economy. Moreover, co-operative using the agricultural sector, thus any effort geared towards carrying out research aimed at improving the agricultural production should be considered work while any suggestion on the improvement of agricultural co-operatives should have bearing on the sector. This is therefore the most appropriate time to study the agricultural sector concerning the prevailing economic condition of Enugu state.

Presently, our farmers are not adequately remunerated despite the fact they bend over double trying to make the state sufficient and self-reliant in food production. They cannot compete with their counterparts in Nigeria not to talk of the part of the world.

If they are organized in co-operative, increased productivity enhanced the profit maximized to them and then farming will once more look attractive.

Based on the findings of this study and suggestions proffered it is strongly believed that the policy makers government would encourage our peasant farmers to voluntarily join the co-operative societies. Moreover, healthy progrant and policies on co-operative and development would be mounted in addition, it would enable the manager of co-operative and organization to adequately organize the co-operative farmer for increased food production. Furthermore, colleges of co-operatives, schools and researcher who wish to carry out research in this field have been provided a springboard from where they can take off.

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study will attempt to effect of cooperative societies on agricultural development of Ezeagu Local Government Area.

The following constraints faced the researcher and limited his efforts in elaborating the research work.

FINANCE: The researcher is a full time student and has been discouraged from traveling to or visiting all Ezeagu Local Government Area and its Environs to collect data for her study due to lack of fund, She has therefore chosen very few households because of proximity and ease of contact to the community.

TIME: This project work has just few months time. It would have been desired for a longer time to exhaust the topic and extend the coverage but it was not possible. A minimum of six months could have been appreciated.

PRESSURE OF ACADEMIC WORK: The researcher have been hindered by pressure of academic work from achieving the extensive research this work should have deserved.

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Most of their term (words or phrase that are used in this projects report may be unfamiliar or may have peculiar meaning and connotation.)

These terms includes:-

1. Agricultural Productivity: The index of the ratio of the value of the total form output to the value of the total input used in farm production.

2. Farm Management: The application of farming science and technology as the solution of the day to day problems facing the farms.

3. Bye –Laws: We mean the registered bye-laws made by a co-operative society which governs the activities of such society and which is made by a society in the exercise of any power conferred by the co-operative laws.

4. Small-scale Individual farmers: This implies that a farmer whose total cultivable farm land is not more than hectares and whose farm labour requirement are largely supplied by his family, his sells are good in a localized market. He requires low initial capital investment farms on small holdings with simple technology and at least 60% of his annual income from agriculture.

5. Enofed: This means Ezeagu local government area co-operative federal limited. It is the highest co-operative body in this state that gives supervisory to other co-operative bodies in the state.

6. Co-operative Society: It is a form of organization whereby people voluntarily associate together as human beings on the basis of equality for the promotion of the economic interests of themselves.

7. Auxiliary Co-operatives: This type provides individual service to members. The co-operatives main function are to provide credit supply and market and storage the co-operative has no hand in the supervision and management affairs of member farm.

8. Productive Type: Here there is a full integration. The co-operation absorbs all the member business enterprise that is members’ economic responsibilities are borne be the co-operatives is found in Enugu, Ezeagu Local Government Area.

9. Production Promotion Co-operative: This is co-operative by integration, the farmer depends on society for his production activities. This is a strong link between the co-operative and members in areas of management marketing credit and decision making.