Co-operative Society AND CO-OPERATIVE FARMING
Co-operative farming is a kind of farming initiated by the government in which a group of farmers come together for farming purposes.
Co-operative farming or Co-operative society plays important roles in agricultural production and develop which includes the following
ROLES OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY OR ORGANIZATIONS IN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION
There are several roles which a Co-operative society group or organization can play in any country, they are
general support for members of co-operative organizations
i. The organization make provision for employment and labour
ii. Co-operative society provides farm inputs to its members
iii. Co-operative organizations provide storage and processing facilities for their members
iv. Co-operative organizations make ready an available market for members\’ farm produce
v. Co-operative organizations also provide training facilities and opportunities to it’s members
vi. Co-operative organizations also provide funds or capital for their members
vii. Co-operative organizations provide or create awareness among members on what, when and how to produce
viii. Co-operative organization enhance investment opportunities
ix. Co-operative organizations encourage as large-scale production and expansion of members\’ frontiers
2.
provision of farm inputs through Co-operative society
Farm inputs like chemicals, farm tools and implements, fertilizers, improved seeds were not only provided by the government in sufficient quantities but were subsidized to enable peasant farmers to buy and use them
provision of basic amenities to members of the co-operative society
In other to discourage the migration of able bodied-men and youths to the urban centres, the government decided to provide basic amenities such as electricity, pipe-borne water, healthcare services and good roads.
These amenities are part of the ways in which a government can encourage farming and agricultural activities to thrive in rural areas
provision of storage and processing facilities through Co-operative society
In order to prevent food wastage and also to provide food in times of scarcity, a good government will build storage and processing facilities in all parts of the country
provision of effective transportation network to members of co-operative society members
The government, through its agencies like the Directorate of food, road and rural infracture (DFRRI), has helped in the construction of federal roads in rural areas to ease the transportation of produce from the farm in rural areas to urban centres.
provision of pest and disease control services through Co-operative society
For farmers to produce foodstuffs in large quantities, the government makes provision for drugs, chemicals and vaccines which are used for pest and disease control.
In addition, the government also employs pathologists and veterinary doctors to prevent and control pests and diseases of crops and animals respectively. A good example of these are
1. Quarantine departments in airports
2. Quarantine department in borders and seaports
These are set up to tackle the menace of pests and other related diseases to crops and animals which are either imported or transmitted within the country.
7.
provision of extension services through Co-operative society
Extension services enable new ideas and innovations to get to rural farmers and on time. The government has to employ qualified and experienced extension officers to perform these roles
