THE ROLE OF COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN RAISING THE PER CAPITAL INCOME OF RURAL DWELLERS IN ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper studied the role of cooperative societies in rising per capita in our rural communities, with special emphasis on Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to ascertain the effect of cooperative societies loans on per capita income rise in rural communities, and determine the effect of provision of farm inputs by cooperative societies on per capita income rise among rural dwellers in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria, a total of six hundred and fifty five (655) cooperative societies members were selected for the study, and a sample of two hundred and forty eight was drawn from the population using Taro Yamane Formulae, the researchers employed tables, frequencies and simple percentages in the analysis of the data, and ANOVA test tool was used to test the formulated hypotheses. Results from the study revealed that the cooperative societies significantly increased the per capita income of members who are farmers in a rural economy through cooperative loans ( F cal 3268.332 > F – tab 2.7858), the cooperative societies also significantly increased the per capita income of the members  (farmers in a rural economy) through provision of farm inputs (F – cal 7245.34 > F – tab 2.7858). The researchers strongly recommends access to more funds for the cooperative societies, so that members can access more loans and the use of the cooperative societies as platforms for the farmers in rural areas to procure farm inputs