THE ROLE OF COOPERATIVE SOCIETY IN IMPROVING FARMERS LIVELIHOOD IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The cooperative was formed as a result of human sufferings and degradation during the industrial revolution in England. The social impact of the revolution was pronounced and largely felt by the common man who needed to improve their conditions of living that had deteriorated to an inhuman standard. The study is set out to describe socio economics characteristics of the cooperators and the various cooperative societies as well as the role cooperative society play in improving the livelihood of cooperators in the study area. The study was conducted in Lapai Local Government area of Niger State. Purposive selection of five villages: Eshi, Kuchi, Gulu, Ebbo, and Puzhi was due to the predominant of cooperative societies in these villages. A total of 90 respondents were randomly selected from sampled communities. Primary and Secondary data were used with the aid of a structured interview scheduled. Data collected were analyzed using the descriptive statistics, Likert-type scale and binary logistic regression model.  The result revealed that majority of the respondents 77.8% are within the age of ≤60, married and literate with farming experience of about 30 years. More than half 64% of the respondents belonged to a cooperative society with mean years of about 8. Majority of the cooperators 81% belonged to producer cooperative society. The strong bargaining power has a mean score of 3.14 which is greater than the neutral point and is therefore accepted.