Title: Agricultural Cooperatives and Sustainable Food Security: A Study of Small-Scale Farmers in South-East, Nigeria
Authors: Dickson, Gift Oke, Nkechi C.Ojiagu and Frank O. Nwankwo
Volume: 9
Issue: 12
Pages: 1-13
Publication Date: 2025/12/28
Abstract:
: Despite the crucial role played by agricultural cooperatives through the effort of small-scale farmers in the south-east region, they still appeared to be operating under conditions that hinder their productivity and sustainability, hence, necessitating this study that assessed the effect of agricultural cooperatives on sustainable food security among small-scale farmers in South-East, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study are to ascertain the influence of Agricultural credit on sustainable food availability,determine the effect of marketing network on sustainable food accessibility, identify the extent to which extension services affect sustainable food utilization and analyze the extent to which input supply affect sustainable food stability among small-scale farmers in the study area. The study was anchored on Social Capital Theory. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study, with a population of 4,888 agricultural cooperatives in South-East, Nigeria, with a membership strength of 60,860. A sample size of 398 was determined using Taro Yamane's (1964) formula. The data source for the study was primary, witha structured questionnaire being the instrument for data collection. The instrument was subjected to face and content validity, and reliability test using Cronbach Alpha, which returned a reliability statistic of 0.977. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Simple Linear Regression, through the Ordinary Least Square method). The hypotheses were tested at a 5% level of significance. The findings showed that agricultural credit has a statistically significant influence on sustainable food availability, there is a statistically significant relationship between marketing network and sustainable food accessibility, there is a statistically significant relationship between extension services and sustainable food utilization, and that input supply statistically and significantly affect sustainable food stability of small-scale farmers in the study area. The study concluded that collectively, these findings underscore the multifaceted importance of cooperative structures as engines of agricultural improvement and food system resilience. Among others, it was recommended that government and cooperative societies should establish targeted micro-credit schemes with flexible repayment cycles specifically designed for small-scale farmers.