Enhancing The Performance Of Cooperative Societies In Abia State, Nigeria: Critical Factors And Policy Implications

Abstract

Against the background of recent economic reforms in the rural development sector and the enhanced linkages between the extension agency and cooperative societies this paper compares the performance of three categories of cooperatives, namely, farming, trading and agro-industrial. A multi stage stratified sampling technique was adopted in selecting twenty five (25) cooperatives and one hundred and fifty (150) cooperators studied. Data were collected with standardized tests and personality inventories. Performance indicators investigated were the level of efficiency (interpersonal relationship, group cohesiveness) and effectiveness (members' leadership behaviour and group task orientation).Surrogate measures were used to generate scores aggregated to yield an index of performance. Although the three groups investigated had above – average performance, agro-industrial groups emerged best in overall efficiency and effectiveness, followed by farming and trading groups. The paper highlights measures for enhancing the performance of cooperatives as instruments of grassroots social and economic development.

Keywords: Performance, group efficiency, group effectiveness, task orientation.

Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences Vol. 5 (1) 2007: pp. 111-126