INCREASING AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT  THROUGH THE ACTIVITIES OF COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN ENUGU STATE
(A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN ENUGU EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ENUGU)
ABSTRACT
The research work on “Increasing Agricultural output through the activities of cooperative societies in Enugu state using Agricultural cooperative in Enugu East Local Government as a case study was carried out to survey the task programmes and policies constituted by government to mobilize peasant farmers into agricultural cooperative and the functional ones more productive as a way of facilitating the attainment of self sufficiency in agricultural output.
        The constraints that affect the achievement of the objectives of those agriculture cooperatives and how it affect agricultural cooperative on Enugu East Local Government Area was identified.  The includes use of crude oil method of farming implements, poor members education and high level of illiteracy among members, inadequate storage facilities and marketing outlet, individualism among Nigeria, leading to unwillingness to pool resources, lack of cooperative and excessive control of government initiative and direction.
        Finally, to control these constraints improve and adequate coordinate have to be put in place between the state and local government authorities. Unpredicted charge of the government, should be avoided, trained, personnel should be employed as these are the only ways to achieving the objectives.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
1.0       Introduction                                                         
1.1        Objective of  the Study                                        
1.2        Statement of  the problem                            
1.3        Significance of Study                                   
1.4        Scope of the study                                              
1.5        Definition of terms                                       
CHAPTER TWO
2.1    Review of related literature              
2.2    Importance of Agricultural Cooperatives          
2.3    Problems of Agricultural Cooperatives             
2.4    Government Policies and Programmes            
2.5    Types of Organizational Forms                               
2.6    Other forms of cooperatives                          
2.7    Reasons why Production Promotion                
2,8    Financing of Agricultural Cooperative              
CHAPTER THREE  
3.0    Summary of finding, conclusion and recommendation          
3.1        Summary of Findings                                   
3.2        Recommendation                                                
3.3        Conclusion                                                  
Bibliography
CHAPTER ONE
1.0       INTRODUCTION
Agriculture is seen as the bedrock of every society nation’s economy, including Enugu state. Work has been carried out tin the state and a lot of research is expected to be carried out; which give rise to this research work. In this direction, much attention has been paid to the neglect and reason to the non preferences of selected agricultural and co-operative societies in Enugu East Local government area of Enugu State.
        A report written in 1982 by Somtochukwu on the Enugu state food journal, states that agricultural cooperative here produced a number of work forces, mostly in the rural area had has equally contributed in the area of solid food production both for man and animals.  Agriculture was the main source of earning in Enugu state in the societies. It was also the source of employment for the teeming population in the seventies.  A leap was taken from the depending on agriculture to depending on commodities from agricultural produce.
        Written on the option “Harvest of failure” by Igbesor (1922:30) stated that Enugu State earned n60m from report in 1992 and agriculture present a clear picture of how that huge capital inflow was spent. He submitted that with the present population growth  rate, which shows that the time is running out in the state do choose between its present needs approaches to agricultural development or declare war on how output which must be sought and own.
        Furthermore, the government should help the cooperative societies which seen to be the only source of hope for the under nourished citizens and inhabitant of the state through promotion, financing government support etc.
        Having realized this the government now sees the importance of organizing their peasant farmers into farmers’ agricultural cooperative with the view of having massive food production attainment in sufficing of produce in Enugu state.
1.1    BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Despites the effort to improve agriculture in Nigeria, there still persist food scarcity in the country.  The growth of the populace is more rapid to that of agriculture and this has reduced food production and the associated increase of income.
        As a result of this, many still go without food considering the position occupied by agriculture in the state economy, the allocation to it and much amount spent on importation of food, there is thus great need to involve in solution through the diagnosis of the problem. This equally resulted to the collusion of peasant farmers into agricultural cooperation with the view of improving agricultural production.
1.2    STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Nigeria has embarked on many programme with the reviving of the depressed agricultural society.
        The micro agricultural cooperation was instituted to organize the small scale farmers who still work manually, and failed to produce enough food for the teeming population thereby forcing the country to be involved in importation of food with a decline in agriculture exports.
        This called for re-examination of the role of these agricultural production with its arm of facilities the attainment of sufficiency in agricultural products making it take prime position in the economy.
1.3       OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The general purpose of this project is to study the existing farmers cooperative societies and their efforts in improving the developing of agriculture.
        Finally, the study are as follows:
a.           To examine the organization set and operations of the farmers cooperative movement of Enugu State with particular reference to Enugu East local government area.
b.           To examine the impact of farmers cooperative societies.
c.           To investigate problems facing farmers cooperative societies.
d.           To suggest ways of enhancing the effectiveness of the society.
1.4    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
agriculture is very important for the sustenance of every economy.  The effort to make agricultural sector to be a cooperative geared towards carrying research which aimed at improving agricultural production should be considered worthwhile. This is therefore, the appropriate time to study the agricultural sector considering the prevailing economic condition of the state.  Farmers if guided and organized into cooperative, there will be increased productivity to enhance profit maximization thereby making farming attractive again.
1.5    SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study will examine the policies of selected agricultural cooperative societies in Enugu East local government Area and the importance of supporting the small scale farmers for increase in food production.
        The constraints of achieving this desired development in agriculture and solution to them shall be examined in this study.  In preparing this report, the researcher has been handicapped by time constraint.  Though with the available time some of the workers not contracted were not up to data with statistical records which should have been useful in the analysis of the collected data.
1.6    DEFINITION OF TERMS
Most of the terms used in this project report may be unfamiliar or may have particular meaning or connotation, these includes:
a.           Farm Management: the application of farming science and technology to the solution of farm daily problem.
b.           Agricultural Productivity: The index of the ratio of the value of the total import used in farm production.
c.           EFCOS:  Enugu Federation Cooperative Society is the highest cooperative body in the state.
d.           Auxiliary Cooperative: It provide individual service to members.  Their main function is to credits supply market and have no hand in management of members farm.
e.           Production Promotion cooperative: This cooperative intergration . the farmers depend for his production activities.  There is strong link between cooperative and members in the area of management, credit and decision making.
f.            Bye laws:  This is a law registered by the society to govern the activities of the society and which is made by the society in the exercise of power conferred by the cooperative society law.  
g.           Cooperative Society: This is a form of organization where people voluntarily associate together as human being on the basis of equality for the promotion of the economy interest of themselves.