Influence of Agricultural Cooperative in Promoting Food Security in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the influence of agricultural cooperative societies in enhancing food security in Ekiti state, Nigeria. The study became imperative because of the prevailing food scarcity that has continued to ravage the state despite the larger part of the population engaging in farming of food crops. The study specifically examined the relationship between agricultural cooperative and food security in Ekiti State, Nigeria and specifically to examine the effect of farm supply inputs and cooperative credit facility in enhancing food security. The study adopted field survey research design through a total population of 47, 594 cooperative members across two senatorial zones in Ekiti State, Nigeria. A total number of 397 questionnaires were distributed, and 381 copies were returned. Validity and reliability of the instrument were established and the data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics and paired sample t-test with the aid of SPSS version 20. The perception of members of food security revealed that adequate storage facilities can help to eradicate food scarcity as revealed by the mean value of 4.39. The also agreed that food security cab be enhanced through improvement on agricultural productivity by agricultural cooperative as shown by mean value of 3.59. All the mean responses of the cooperative members were more than 3.0 on farm supply inputs and credit facilities. This implies that members agreed that cooperatives contributed greatly to their financial empowerment and as well provided them with adequate farm inputs to improve their agricultural productivity. The study thereby recommended that, since farm inputs have a positive effect on food availability, hence, government stakeholders and respective management should not hesitate to provide farm input supplies to cushion the effect of pesticides on farm crops and plants and also, make credit facilities available to members to boost their plantation.