ANALYSIS OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES IN POVERTY REDUCTION OF AGRARIAN COMMUNITIES (A STUDY OF BUWAYA AND GREEN LAND AGRICULTURAL CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD KADUNA)

The research examined the Analysis of the Contributions of Agricultural co-operatives in Poverty Reduction of Agrarian Community. The findings are based on the research questions and research objectives. A survey design was used for the study. The population of this study consisted of all the members of the two (2) agricultural co-operative societies in Chikun L.G.A. Out of the total population of 137 members of the cooperative societies, the researcher used a sample size of 90 members. This number was determined using the Krejcie and Morgan (1976) sample size table cited in Ogbu (2010). The results show that agricultural cooperatives play a dominant role in accelerating farmers’ income. This enables farmers to produce massively at ease thereby reducing their production problems and reduce poverty among farmers. Agricultural cooperatives contribute greatly to the socio-economic lives of the farmers through providing agricultural incentives, extension services among others. By so doing, agricultural cooperatives have been responsible for developing modern markets in rural areas where the cooperative provides a ready market for farmers’ crops but absorbs transaction costs which would otherwise hinder small farmers from market and production integration. They also have the advantage of accessing cooperative education, business development and capacity building. Cooperative education enables them to participate in democratic principles and leadership training. The research result shows that there are different factors affecting the effectiveness of agricultural cooperatives in improving farmers’ income and reducing poverty among farmers; lack of enough capital and technological constraints affect most agricultural cooperatives in achieving their dreams. Some of these problems are common to most societies while some of them are peculiar to agricultural cooperatives. The researcher recommended among others that in order to solve the problems of inadequate capital, the society should embark on education and enlightenment on their need to create investment consciousness. The education will go further in eliminating the cultural norms and values which may be affecting the society psychologically; more production inputs and effective markets should be created for massive production.