PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH AGRICULTURAL CO-OPERATIVE EXTENSION IN NIGERIA
(A CASE STUDY OF ANAMBRA WEST LGA IN ANAMBRA STATE)
ABSTRACT
This research work titled “Problems associated with agricultural co-operative extension in Nigeria with a particular reference to Anambra West LGA in Anambra state.” The work the roles of agricultural cooperative extension in the development of Nigeria and Anambra West LGA in Anambra in particular, evaluate relationship between agricultural cooperative extension and productivity of agricultural products in Anambra West LGA in Anambra state, the research equally evaluate the problems associated with agricultural cooperative extension in Anambra West LGA.Data for the study was sourced from two main sources which include Primary and Secondary sources of data Collection. Primary data: questionnaires and oral interviews were used to collect information from the respondents. Secondary data: journals, and other relevant materials relating to the area of my investigation will be review. Extensive literature review was carried out on the direct literature and indirect literature on books, journals and past works. The research instrument used in this study includes oral interview and questionnaire. The questionnaire is structural as to contain both close and open ended question. Simple tables and percentages were used in treatment of data. The researcher found out that the problems facing agricultural cooperative extension includes; Lack of capital, Bad management, Hasty registration, It is observed that the literacy level among the members is low, based on the findings the researcher recommends that Government and financial institutions in the country should help in sourcing funds to cooperative societies through loan. The cooperative societies should draft good constitution that will guide the operations of the society to avoided bad management. They should select capable persons to manage the affaires of the society. Government should map out quality procedures for the registration of co-operative societies. The management of the co-operative society should look for ways of education some of the illiterate members of the cooperative society for the growth and development of the society.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page. . . . . . . . . .i
Approval page.. . . . . . . . .ii
Dedication. . . . . . . . . .iii
Acknowledgement. . . . . . . . .iv
Abstract. . . . . . . . . . .vi
Table of contents. .. . . . . . . .vii
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction . . . . . . . .1
1.1 Background of the study . . . . . .1
1.2 Statement of problems . . . . . .4
1.3 Objective of the study. . . . . . .4
1.4 Research Question. . . . . . . .6
1.5 Research hypothesis. . . . . . .7
1.6 Significance of the study.. . . . . .8
1.7 Scope and limitation of the study. . . . .9
1.8 Definition of terms. . . . . . . .11
References. . . . . . . . .13
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Review of Related Literature. . . . . .14
2.1 Development of Cooperative Extension work. . .14
2.2 The Basic Principles . . . . . . .16
2.3 The Stages involved in the Cooperative Extension
work are four stages. . . . . . . . .18
2.4 Cooperative Extension work not easy. . . .20
2.5 The Extension service defined. . . . . .23
2.6 The method of disseminating information to farmers 24
2.7 Types of Extension services . . . . .26
2.8 Features of Extension services. . . . . .28
2.9 Relevance of importance of Extension. . . .28
2.10Types of Agricultural cooperative and functions. .30
2.11Problems of Agricultural cooperatives in Nigeria. .33
2.12Importance of Agriculture to the Cooperative
Extension worker. . . . . . . . .37
2.13Plans for success by extension workers of
Agricultural cooperative. . . . . .. . .38
References. . .. . . . . . . .42
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Research Design and Methodology.. . . .43
3.1 Research design. . . . . . . .43
3.2 Area of study. . . . . . . . .43
3.3 Sources of data. . . . . . . .45
3.4 Research Population and sample size. . . .45
3.5 Research Instrument . . . . . .48
3.6 Validity and Reliability of the Instrument . . .49
3.7 Data Analysis . . . . . . . .49
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Presentation and Analysis of Data . . . . .50
4.1 Data Presentation. . . . . . . .50
4.2 Discussion of Findings. . . . . . .62
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Summary of Findings, Conclusion and
Recommendations . . . . . . . .65
5.1 Summary of Findings. . . . . . .65
5.2 Conclusions. . . . . . . . .67
5.3 Recommendations. . . . . . . .68
Bibliography . . . . . . . .69
Appendix I. . . . . . . . .70
Appendix II . . . . . . . .71
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.9 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Agricultural is important to the Nigerian economy as it engages about 70% of the labor force and contributes over 40% of the Gross Domestic product (GDP) (FMARD, 2000). It provides food for the teeming population and raw materials for industries. Ijere, M.O (1988).
The Nigeria agricultural policy provided the framework for implementation of programmes and guidelines for agricultural development. The broad objective was to obtain self sustaining transformation relevant for over-all socio-economic development of rural areas (FMARD, 1988). This was expanded in the revised policy to include promoting farmer friendly agricultural policy that achieves food security, eradicates poverty, develops the rural economy and protects the environment (FMARD, 2000). Akubulo, C.J (1991).
The objectives and strategies to achieve them as spelt out in the policy documents emphasize the importance of agricultural extension of the goal attainment of the agricultural sector. To achieve increased production and improved processing in all the sub-sectors of agriculture (crop livestock and fisheries) improvement of quality of life and promotion of environment friendly practices and other objectives require extension effort. Auyanwn A.C (1996). The new policy thrust expanded the broad objective according to (FMARD, 2000) to include; Umeabali E.E (1991).
Promoting famer-friendly agricultural policy that achieve food security, eradicates poverty, develops the rural economy and protects the environment through.
i. Creating the conducive macro-environment to stimulate greater private sector investment in agricultural.
ii. Rationalizing the roles of the three tiers of government in their promotional and supportive activities to stimulate growth.
iii. Reorganizing the institutional framework for government intervention in the sector.
iv. Articulating and implementing integrated rural development as a priority national programme to raise the quality of life of the rural people.
v. Increasing agricultural production through increased budgetary allocation and promotion of the necessary developmental, supportive and service-oriented activities, opportunities.
vi. Increasing fiscal incentives to agricultural.
vii. Promoting increased used of agricultural machinery and inputs through favorable tariff policy. This policy direction placed additional responsibilities on extension by including sustainable development.
1.10STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS
The research problem is the challenges associated with agricultural co-operative extension in Nigeria. Such challenges are:
Problems the agricultural co-operative extension in Nigeria are facing reasons for poor extension services, its disadvantage, corruption, mismanagement (lack of supervision).
Capital is also a problem which affects the productivity of agricultural co-operative extension in Nigeria.
1.11OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The aim of this research work is to examine the problems associated with agricultural co-operative extension in Nigeria with specific reference to Anambra West LGA in Anambra state. The specific objectives of this research work includes the following.
1. To examine the roles of agricultural cooperative extension in the development of Nigeria and Anambra West LGA in Anambra in particular.
2. To evaluate relationship between agricultural cooperative extension and productivity of agricultural products in Anambra West LGA in Anambra state.
3. To examine that extent does agricultural cooperative extension helps the farmers in Anambra West LGA in Anambra.
4. To determine the exact problems associated with agricultural cooperative extension in Anambra West LGA.
5. To proffer possible solutions to the problem of agricultural cooperative extension in Anambra West LGA in Anarmbra state.
1.12RESEARCH QUESTION
Based on the above objectives, the research developed the following research question.
1. What are the roles of agricultural cooperative extension in the development of Nigeria and Anambra West LGA in Anambra in particular?
2. Is there any relationship between agricultural cooperative extension and productivity of agricultural products in Anambra West LGA in Anambra state?
3. To what extent does agricultural cooperative extension helps the farmers in Anambra West LGA in Anambra.
4. What are the exact problems associated with agricultural cooperative extension in Anambra West LGA.
5. What are the possible solutions to the problem of agricultural cooperative extension in Anambra West LGA in Anarmbra state.
1.13RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
The following research hypotheses have been put forward by the researcher to guide the study.
H0: Agricultural cooperative extension does not play any role in the development of Nigeria and Anambra West LGA in Anambra in particular.
H1: Agricultural cooperative extension play significant role in the development of Nigeria and Anambra West LGA in Anambra in particular.
H0: There is significant relationship between agricultural cooperative extension and productivity of agricultural products in Anambra West LGA in Anambra state.
H0: There is no relationship between agricultural cooperative extension and productivity of agricultural products in Anambra West LGA in Anambra state?
1.14SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This research work will be of immense help to:
¨ The researcher: It will help the research to know more on the problems associated with agricultural co-operative extension in Nigeria Anambra West LGA in Anambra state.
¨ Agricultural cooperatives in the area: It will also be of great importance to agricultural cooperatives in Anambra West LGA in Anambra state as it will enrich their knowledge on the benefits and usefulness of agricultural cooperative extension in area.
This study will be of great importance to the country Nigeria as it will help the policy makers to politicize laws that will guide agricultural cooperative extension in the country as it will help in the development of agricultural and as well as the development of country.
1.15SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This study is carried only at examine the problems associated with agricultural co-operative extension in Nigeria with specific reference to Anambra West LGA in Anambra state.
The researcher in carrying out this study encountered numerous problems, which includes:
¨ FUND – This included lack of enough fund to move around and visit the organizations, the researcher has to visit the organizations more than two times, the researcher equally needed enough money to source material which constitutes an impediment. High cost of transportation in the city due to long distance also imposed its own limitation on the researcher.
¨ LACK OF RESEARCH MATERIALS: lack of research materials was also one of the problems faced by the researcher in the cause of this research work.
¨ RESPONDS OF THE RESPONDENTS: Another constraint to the researcher is that some of the respondents found it difficult to express their view with regards to the subject matter.
From the above points the researcher tried his best to bring out in detailed study on problems and prospects of forensic accounting in the financial performance of Nigeria business enterprises but the above constraints have limited the researcher to only Anambra West LGA in Anambra state.
1.16DEFINITION OF TERMS
To make this research clearer and understandable, some terms are defined by the researcher to make the research comprehensive.
¨ Agriculture: Agriculture is defined as the growing of plants and keeping of animals to obtain food, income and other products.
¨ Extension agent: These are workers that obtained formal training on the innovations and techniques in farming practice and passes the information to local farmer to increase yield and productivity.
¨ Land tenure system: This is a system of land ownership whereby a piece of land is being owned either by an individual or a community.
¨ Agricultural subsidies: There are funds government given to farmers to support their operations or it may come in form to indirect support such as providing low-cost crop insurance or fertilizers.
¨ Agric-innovation: This is the discovery in agricultural machinery and farming practices.
¨ FMARD: Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
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