AKSU Journal of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development

Agricultural Co-operative Formation Growth and Relationship on Agricultural Development in Rivers State, Nigeria

Author:  Benson, D. N.

Abstract
The paper analyzed the growth dynamics of agricultural co-operative societies on food production in Rivers State, Nigeria. Data for the agricultural co-operative societies formation were collected from the Rivers State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Port Harcourt while the data on food crop production were collected from the Rivers State Agricultural Development Programme Office from 1972-2019. It was observed that there were fluctuations in the number of agricultural co-operative societies formed which were attributed to the emergence of empowerment programs and the geometric progression in population of the study area. The relationship between the number of agricultural co-operative societies formed and the output of food crops was tested using the Spearman Rank-Order Correlation coefficient using SPSS Statistics. It was found that there was a very strong positive correlation of 0.933 which was significant at the 0.01 level of probability (2- tailed) tests, meaning that the output of food crop in the study area depends on the number of cooperative societies formed. The apex society (Rivers Co-operative Federation Limited) involvement in the coordination of the input needs of farmers in the study area contributed immensely, especially; the establishment of the cassava expanded production with a view to processing cassava into flour and starch- a highly needed and largely imported industrial raw material. Agricultural co-operative societies as it serve as a means of reducing youth restiveness increase food production. As food production cannot be carried out in an atmosphere of rancor. Besides, Agricultural cooperative societies in Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole because of the large number people impart new ideas and techniques used in harnessing resources towards improving agricultural production and this constitutes great significance towards the development of the agricultural sector.