ABSTRACT: This study is carried out to find the problems of cooperative in the marketing of agricultural food products in Enugu zone of Enugu State. The study became necessary because of the recent increases in the price of food crop in the country. Because of time lapses, a survey sample was used to study the entire population covering Oji-River, Udi, Enugu North, Enugu South, Awgu and Ezeagu local government areas of the state. Direct sampling methods was used in administering the questionnaire. The data collected was analyzed using percentages and pie chart. The results in this study have shown that although price of food crops marketed by the co-operatives is moderate, its not stable. Inadequate storage facilities have a significant effect on the efficient marketing of food crops by the co-operatives. That there is correspondence between the demand for food crops marketed by co-operative and the consumers educational level attained from the findings, the researcher made the following recommendations:
That the state government should give financial aid to these co-operators for a better and efficient running of their affairs by the management. That since price is one of the marketing variables within the control of management, the management of these co-operative should put forth efforts aimed at maintaining fair and stable prices of food crops bearing in mind that the co-operative organization is for service and not entirely profit oriented.
That effort should be geared on the improvement of storage facilities. Also that the state government should help to educate farmer through their co-operatives as a means of improving production and marketing of agricultural products.
Finally, the effort of transportation on the co-operative societies are so severe that they encounter a heavier barrier or difficulty while marketing their food crops and therefore call for an improvement in the existing means of transportation or to create one where non exist.
TABLE OF CONTENT
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CHAPTER ONE
The co-operative society was principally aimed at organizing non-profit making institutions that would protect its members from exploitation by capitalist shop owners who sold goods at exorbitant prices.
The origin of co-operative societies dates back to 1844 in Rochadale, a town in Britain. Twenty eight artisans, called the “Rochdale Pioneers contributed a few pence per week, with this amount, they started a retail shop. Members bought cheaply from their shop and profits were distributed to members in pro-portion to the amount of business done through the co-operative.
A much greater measure of success has been attended on the development of consumer’s co-operative societies though not without some difficulties, which eventually stopped many from existing.
Almost every community is Nigeria with reference to the local
governments in Enugu zone chosen practices one form of co-operative society and this enhances the rapid development, the society nationwide. With this regard, we were made to know that agricultural products that were produced in different parts of the country should be distributed equitably or almost. In the
course of the distribution, people do come together and pull their meager resources together for an efficient distribution of these goods.
Efficient distribution determine the quantities and prices of this products that come into the market.
Contrarily, if poorly distributed, the producers will find it difficult to market their products individually. In attempt to maintain stable prices of farm products and minimize the excesses of middlemen, many producers have decided to form food crops co-operative society in their zones and extended it to almost all the communities in the local government entirely. The objectives of forming the co-operative society includes:
However, in doing these duties, which are marketing of food
crop for the members interest, raising of internal funds to give to the members as loan, obtaining loan from lending and discount houses or financial institutions, obtaining raw materials and doing other services to their member, the co-operators ran into some difficulties and other or problems. It is this problem that the researcher is out to find as well as recommending for their total elimination.
food production is given the highest priority as well as in the state and in the entire country. Food production is carries out or it mainly produced locally for home consumption. Out or it mainly produced locally for home consumption average of this farmers who care to join co-operative societies are experiencing considerably difficulty mainly in the sale of their food crops. This arises from the current development of non-availability of food crops at reasonable price coupled with the scarcity of essential commodities and hearing of food crops by in surplus marketing agents.
Majority of consumers complains that co-operators operate like the close shop to the exclusion of non-members. The co-operators themselves complain of the following as their major problems.
These failing and weaknesses are the major reasons why
meaning food crop producers see co-operatives as a dumping ground for their products. The relevant question now is how do we improve our marketing operations to the satisfaction of both members and their potential customers. The burden of this study therefore is to provide as answers to the questions.
problems encountered while marketing agricultural products by the co-operators in the society with particular reference to Enugu zone.
Enugu zone with six local government and a population above 500,000 people with only an average of one co-operative society in one local government are now facing serious problems in the marketing of their product in zone.
Specially, the study is meant:
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