Effects Of Social Capital On Economic Activities Of Farmer’S Cooperatives: A Study Of Awka North Local Government Area Of Anambra State, Nigeria
Okafor Ogochukwu Esther
Department of Cooperative Economics & Management, NnamdiAzikiwe University, Awka
Udemadu Frank C
Department of Cooperative Economics & Management, NnamdiAzikiwe University, Awka
Michael Maureen Chinenye PhD
Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri, Imo State
Keywords: Cooperatives, Social Capital, Economic Activities of Farmers Cooperatives
Abstract
This study assessed the effects of social capital on the economic activities of farmer’s cooperatives (A study of Awka North LGA). The population of this study comprised of all registered and functional cooperative societies in the area of study. Awka North has approximately 200 cooperatives. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the nine (9) Cooperative societies in Awka North local government area and they have membership strength of 243.sample size of 151 members were selected using Taro Yamene formular. The research objectives were analyzed using percentage and frequency distribution table and regression. A total of one hundred and fiftyone (151) copies of questionnaire were distributed and one hundred and sixteen (116) was recovered. Distribution Based on Sources of social capital available to farmer’s cooperatives returned a grand mean of 2.57. The distribution based on benefits of social capital on the economic performance of farmer’s cooperatives. The entire item is regarded as accepted with a grand mean score of 3.43 The regression result showed there is significant relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of the members and the effect of social capital on the economic activities of farmer’s cooperatives. The sig. value 0.0017 is less than the alpha value 0.05, the researcher therefore concludes that there is significant relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of the members and the effect of social capital on the economic activities of farmer’s cooperatives. Based on the findings of the study, the researcher made the following recommendations. Policy should be directed at investment in social capital development that would enhance farmer’s cooperative access to productive resources. Cooperative society leaders should organize seminar for farmer’s cooperators on how to use social capital in other to yield returns in the investment at end of the agricultural business. among others.