Abstract

The study evaluated how Cooperatives could be used to empower women in Awka South local Government Area of Anambra State. The researcher used Frequency distribution table and percentage to turn the qualitative characteristic into numerical forms. Likert scale analysis was used to examine the perception of member on how cooperative services have brought about an enhancement to their economic well-being as represented by income. Further analysis was under taken to measure the effects of cooperative services such as credit extension, input supply, marketing, processing agricultural production on their income. To accomplish this, a multiple regression analysis was employed. Evidence from the study revealed that educational level has marginal contribution of -317.032 with a t- ratio of -2.009 which is significant at 5% level of significance. Family size has marginal contribution of -854.265 with t-ratio of -1.682 which is significant at 1% level of significance. The value of agricultural product marketed through women cooperative has a marginal contribution of .977. The t- value is 23.728 which are significant at 1% level. This result also shows that marketing through cooperative is positively related to income of the members. The value of agricultural product processed through women cooperative has a marginal contribution of .008. The t-value is 1.346 which is highly significant at 1 and 5% level of probability. This result also shows that value of processed product is positively related to income, as the processed product increases, income increases. The amount of input procured has a marginal contribution of .173. The t-value is 4.037 which are highly significant at 1%. Thus there is a high degree contribution of input procured by the members of women cooperative to their income. This result also shows that input has a positive relationship with income that is as the amount of input increases, income level increases. Thus input is relatively significant determinant of income of women cooperative societies in Awka south. In spite of the contributions cooperatives in empowering women in the study area, evidence from the study revealed that cooperatives were constrained by many challenges. In order to strengthen cooperatives improve on the services they provide to their members, Government should aid those women cooperative by providing them with loans and grants as fund is the life wire of any business. Cooperative should encourage and ensure that the cooperative extension officers in the area carry out their duties efficiently and effectively so as to encourage those women cooperative in the rural area. Okafor Ogochukwu | Nwankwo Frank O."Women Empowerment Through Cooperative In Anambra State. (A Study Of Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State Nigeria)" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-2 | Issue-5 , August 2018, URL: http://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd15852.pdf http://www.ijtsrd.com/economics/other/15852/women-empowerment-through-cooperative-in-anambra-state--a-study-of-awka-south-local-government-area--anambra-state-nigeria/okafor-ogochukwu

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