Determinant Factors to Cooperative Societies Access to Government Agricultural Inputs Intervention Program in Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

The determinant factors to cooperative societies access to government agricultural production intervention programs in Anambra State, Nigeria. Multi stage random sampling procedure was used to select one hundred and twenty cooperative societies for detailed study. Primary data were obtained through the use of structured questionnaires and informal or oral interview of the respondents. The  percentage responses, Logistic regression and Factor analysis models were employed to address the objectives of the study. The results of the socioeconomic characteristics show that most of the respondents were youthful, male dominated, married, highly educated, moderate farming experience and poor extension outreach. On the result of the cooperative type and sources of income showed that most of the respondents were members of multipurpose, thrift and savings, followed by production and marketing cooperatives. The sources of income for the respondents were loan, levies and registrations. The result of the benefits of cooperative to the members were improved farm output, access to farm input, easily access to farm input, educational and training, improved livelihood and added value to agricultural product. Besides, the farm inputs intervention available to the farmers to the farmers were access to land, fertilizer, loan, cassava cutting and storage equipment.  Additionally the farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics that affected their access to government were household size, extension services, educational of the respondents, off farm income and membership of organization. The constraints to cooperative activities were government interventions, poor education and training, corruption, lack of membership commitment, over-control and regulation by government, lack of clear guide and involvement in politics. The following recommendations were proffered; There is need to enhance farmers’ access to credit from microfinance and commercial banks, need to expose the farmers to adult education, seminars and workshop and improve farmers’ access to improved farm inputs at reduced or subsidized costs.

Keyword; Determinant, Factors, Cooperative, Societies,  Access,  Government,  Agricultural, Inputs,  Intervention,  Program.