Contributions of Farmer Cooperatives to Arable Crop Production in Umuahia North Local Government Area in Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

In recognition of the need for collective action and networking among farmers the study investigated the contributions of farmer's cooperative societies to arable crop production in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State. Purposive and random sampling techniques were employed to select 120 respondents, including cooperators and non-cooperators. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Many of the respondents were between 21-40 years, 33% and 23.4% of cooperators and non-cooperators respectively had secondary education. Forty percent and 25% of cooperators and non-cooperators respectively were engaged in farming and trading. Respondents (cooperators) highlighted major benefits accruing from cooperative membership including easy access to credit, easy access to farm inputs, avenue for disposal of produce, and opportunity for accessing arable crop production innovations. The major problems associated with arable crop farmers were insufficient card (21%) high transportation cost (3.33%) and storage of farm labour (8.3%). Since cooperative societies serves as vehicle for enhancing rural people welfare and agricultural development, cooperative education is essential for both cooperators and non-cooperators. Loans should be made available to co-operative organizations and cooperative learning centers established in Abia state.