Assessment of Performance of Some Selected Cooperatives in Marketing of Agricultural Produce in Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the performance of some selected cooperatives in marketing of agricultural produce in Imo State, so as to investigate their contributions towards food provision and agricultural development. The socio-economic profile of cooperative societies, extent of marketing different types of agricultural produce and extent use of marketing channels of agricultural produce were ascertained. The 98 cooperatives in the area of agriculture were purposively selected for the study while simple random sampling technique was used and the structured questionnaire were dully completed and returned. The data was analyzed and hypothesis was tested with multiple regression analysis. The results revealed that: majority of cooperative societies about 82% are prudent in handling cost; long years of marketing experience indicate sustainability; 76% of the cooperative societies market through wholesaling, private shops and supermarkets channels; more than two-third of the cooperative societies earn between N501,000.00 to N1,000,000.00 as progressive income; grand mean of 2.67 indicates the extent of marketing different types of agricultural produce is low; grand mean of 2.94 of extent use of marketing channels are not effective and  F statistics of 114.681 indicates that there is a significant effect of socio-economic profile of the cooperative societies on their income. It recommends that: The cooperative societies should increase their channel of marketing agricultural produce direct to final consumers to earn more income, in order to make the extent of marketing channels effective the cooperative societies should increase their marketing activities of the agricultural produce, cooperative societies should concentrate on the agricultural produce that gives them the best return on investment and government intervention is necessary in the area of building silos, constructing quality rural roads for accessibility of agricultural produce cum consideration of cooperatives for financial support.