Role of Co-operative Organizations in Agricultural Development in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the role of co-operative organizations in agricultural development in the Tai Local Government Area (LGA) in Rivers State, Nigeria.  A total of 50 co-operative organizations members were sampled from 10 purposively selected co-operative organizations in Tai LGA.  Methods and techniques of data collection were through the use of questionnaires.  The information collected was analyzed using frequency, t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA).  Analysis of data collected revealed that co-operative formation in Tai has actually improved the farming system and standard of living of the people, especially the cooperators.  The results showed that 50% of the respondents belonged to farmers’ co-operative society, 26% were members of thrift and loan co-operative society and 14% belonged to producers’ co-operative organization, constituting 90% of all co-operative membership surveyed.  About 80% of the respondents joined co-operative societies to improve their farm production and get access to farm inputs.  Improved marketing facility was the most significant variable at 1% with a large effect on the co-operative member using t-test analysis.  Other variables such as use of improved technology, minisett techniques of yam production and purchase of essential commodity had no significantly different means, therefore had small effect on co-operative benefits to member and non-member. Therefore, co-operative societies played vital roles in developing agriculture in Tai LGA and Rivers State in general.