This project topic seeks to understand the contribution of co-operatives to agricultural development in Nigeria, it illustrates how farmers engage in mutual efforts, joint action, and a common goal to achieve a social interest that is beneficial to their agricultural endeavors. Get full project here.

So what’s a co-operative about?
Co-operative as used in this project topic is something the Igbos call Isusu, Yorubas call it Ajo and the Hausas call it Adashi. Technically it involves a financial contribution of a specified amount of money on agreed intervals by each member. Depending on the nature of their agreement, there is usually a slated time when everyone can take back the accumulated sum of their contribution, either annually, months, daily, weekly or bi-weekly.

Co-operatives actively serve as a better way to save in bulk since it instills financial discipline and a good saving habit in each member. In some cases, members are allowed to borrow more than their actual contribution to solve a pressing need to pay back later with interest. Co-operative are everywhere in a typical Nigerian market among businessmen and women, among community members, friends, and family.

How possibly have co-operatives contributed to agricultural development in Nigeria?
Co-operatives are social interest groups and as such useful for farmers’ collective growth.

Financial growth
Farm products are harvested seasonally; farmers leverage the provisions of co-operatives to raise enough capital to invest the next season. As farms yield seasonally, it only takes discipline and accountability to account for money made on sales. However, joining a co-operative helps farmers grow financially and of course improve their capital investment in agriculture.

Organization
With functional co-operatives for farmers, they are bound by certain regulations that govern how they harness the production, distribution, and profitability of their farm products. With co-operatives, farmers can unify their product prices, become more organized on who to distribute to, when, where, and how.

Conclusively, co-operatives enhance the collective growth of their members and it depends on the efforts of each member. Co-operatives are one of the oldest social interest groups and up until today, it has proven to bring a strong backbone to the mutual effort, joint action, and common goal groups.