Analysis of Pull and Push Factors in Cooperative Business Organization in Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

The Federal Government of Nigeria intensified the Formation of Cooperatives in the eighties as part of her economic reform and poverty alleviation programmes in almost all the states. Abia people's favourable disposition to adoption of cooperative system as a strategy for enhancing agricultural and rural development is evident from the great number of persons that are engaged in cooperative activities, especially in the rural communities of Abia State. Worrisome, however, is the high rate of membership turnover. This prompted an investigation with the aim of ascertaining factors responsible for fluidity of membership of these groups. A multi-stage, stratified sampling technique was adopted in selecting 25 cooperative societies and 150 cooperators covered in the study. Descriptive statistics such as percentages was used in data analysis. Participation in cooperative activities was found to have been influenced mainly by poverty (58.7%) among the people. Cooperative membership was also perceived as an avenue for socialization (25.40%) and savings mobilization (37.3%). The inability of these societies to satisfy members social, affiliative and biological needs and, consequently, enhance their well-being was found to be a disincentive to belonging to such groups. Given the relevance of these societies, it is recommended that, among other things, the activities of Abia State Economic Empowerment Development Strategies (ABSEEDS) be intensified to improve participation in cooperative societies in the State.