EFFECT OF COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract
This study assessed the effects of cooperative societies on agricultural Production of farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. The study randomly selected 140 farmer cooperators for the study. Data was collected with an interview schedule and analysed with frequency count, percentage, mean and standard deviation and regression tools. The study found that majority (68.0%) were married. Top activities carried out by cooperative societies were crop production information (mean=4.53) ranked first, group farming (mean=4.53) ranked second, credit facilities (mean=4.47) ranked third. The contribution of cooperatives to agricultural production were rated as procure farm input for members (mean=4.58) first position, increase in quantity and quality of farm output and access to storage facilities (mean=4.48) second position respectively. Constraints limiting the contribution of cooperatives to agricultural production to include lack of skilled personal (mean=4.57), corruption and fraudulent officers (mean=4.54) and inadequate infrastructural facilities (mean=4.53). Regression analysis show that socio-economic factors significantly influenced the contribution derived from cooperative societies (R2 = 0. 650, F = 28.932, p < 0.01). This study concluded that membership of agricultural cooperatives has significantly affected agricultural development through improved procurement of farm input for members, increase in quantity and quality of farm output for members and access to storage facilities for members of farmers in the study area. It is recommended that government extension agencies and concern private sectors should ensure adequate and sufficient provision of resources especially credit facilities farmer cooperatives in the study area.
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