EFFECTS OF WOMEN COOPERATIVE SOCIETY ON ENSURING FOOD SECURITY IN OGBARU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated Effects of the Activities of Women Cooperative Society on Ensuring Food Security in Ogbaru Local Government Area. Data were obtained from 10 functional and active cooperatives in the study area, a total of one hundred thirty-seven (137) copies of questionnaire were distributed among the respondent representing 100% of the sample size, fifteen (15) copies of the questionnaires were improperly filled representing 11% and one hundred and twenty-two (122) copies of the questionnaire were properly filled representing 89%, the data collected were subjected to analysis with both descriptive and inferential statistics, using the frequency distribution and percentage table. The stated hypothesis was tested with Regression Analysis.

Evidence from the study revealed that there is a significant effect of the activities of women cooperative and food security in the study area. There was strong evidence from the study that food availability will increase when agricultural input and supports are mobilized. Findings from the study also revealed that growth in food availability was proxy for the provision of credit facilities by women cooperative. It was also observed that women cooperative is faced with some constraints that hindered them from increasing their efficiency and effectiveness.

Therefore, in order to strengthen their role in achieving food security, the following recommendations were made: That cooperative policy that favours the growth of these cooperatives by putting in place financial institutions that could increase the credit facilities to the women farmers in particular at low interest rates. There is need for re-orientation and more sensitization on leadership as it is paramount to the success of any organization and this explains the failure of many cooperatives since they lack proper coordination, administrative skills and managerial acumen.