EFFECTIVENESS OF COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES ON RURAL WOMEN LIVELIHOOD IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

In spite of the unacknowledged contribution of rural women, their participation in cooperative societies has immensely contributed to achieving better incomes through their various livelihoods activities. Thus, the study therefore, examined the effectiveness of cooperative societies on rural women livelihood, identified the socio-economic characteristics, investigates their livelihood activities and examined the effectiveness of cooperative societies on their livelihoods. Multi-stage sampling technique was used in selecting 132 respondents using interview schedule. Descriptive (frequency counts, percentages and Weighted Mean Score (WMS)) and Inferential (Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and Chi-square) statistical tools were used to analyse the data. The results revealed that majority of the respondents in the study area were in their active age, married, literate and have large household size. Agricultural and trading activities were the major livelihood activities of the respondents. Increased access to credit and increased ward’s enrolment rate at school were the most effect of cooperative society. The result of the hypothesis revealed that years spent in school (r=0.328**, p= 0.000) has a direct relationship with the effectiveness of cooperative societies on the respondents’ livelihood. Also, Chi-square analysis further revealed significant association between the respondents’ primary occupation (x=69.568, p= 0.011), secondary occupation (x=63.909, p= 0.023), membership in occupational associations (x=21.524, p= 0.000) and the effectiveness of cooperative societies on the respondents’ livelihood. The study concluded that the years the respondents spent in school, their primary and secondary occupation and their membership in occupational associations plays important role in enjoying the services of cooperative societies.The study therefore recommends that rural women be made aware of the importance of formal education and its vital role in reaping the benefit of cooperative society. Emphasis must be placed on engaging on a good occupation that is worth giving loan assistance to for expansion.