WhatsApp or SMS: 07087083227
Click here to Get The Complete Research Project Chapter 1-5

Full Project – Cooperative societies and marketing of cash crops in Imo state

Click here to Get this Complete Project Chapter 1-5

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Cash crop farming is for profit. Also called commercial farming and cash cropping, it is a farming venture in which cash crops are grown. Cash crops are those which are produced for the purpose of generating cash or money. The products are therefore intended to be marketed for profit.

Individual farmers just naturally grow cash crops as a livelihood and to generate cash for the family’s needs. An extra profit is needed to fund the next cropping activities.

The farming method employed differ from farmer and from country to country. In developing countries, many traditional farmers continue to adopt their customary practices. But in highly industrialized countries, intensive cultivation and mechanized farming are common. This is so with large plantations operated by multinational companies and by individuals having sufficient capital.

Monocropping or sole cropping, which is the growing of a single crop on a piece of land, is common with cash crop faming while subsistence farming usually practices multiple cropping or mixed cropping. In contrast to the aim of cash cropping, subsistence farming is practiced for sustenance, that is, for the food of the farmer and his family. Subsistence crops are also grown for feed of the farmer’s livestock including working animals.

While there are many advantages to cash crop farming such as source of living for the farmer, salaries and wages for the employees and farm workers, and government revenue through taxes, it may also have adverse effects.

As a result of monocropping, which is commonly practiced in growing cash crops in plantation scale, the production of certain food crops may become limited. Continuous monocropping is likewise associated with soil degradation and proliferation of insect pests and disease pathogens.

An example is that of potato, following its introduction, it became the staple crop of Ireland. In 1845-1846, the crop was devastated by a serious disease which resulted to mass starvation. Exportation, if not regulated, may likewise result to short supply but high prices of locally available food. It is known, however, that exportation is always regulated.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Organization constitutes of a major component of society. An organization is a collection of people’s bound together by a common goal, which may be social, economic, religion political etc. they are usually formed to actualized dream (objectives) which can best be met by a collective action.

Cooperative societies are variants of organization having a common economic objective, which they aspire to realize in the interest of members or consumers as the case may be. The cooperative movement is a product of the adhered socio-economic condition brought about by industrialization and a better farming economy in many of the advanced countries.

In Nigeria, urbanization is taking place at a place owing to variety of factors like rural, urban, migration, grater industrialization and high rate of population increase.

According to Ekwnmife (2007:28) to develop demand for products and services to satisfy human needs, the assets of cooperative are to be held in common. In fact in trust for future generation. As a result of urbanization, a problem arises for industrial workers and other fixed income earners who also have to compare for commodities in the open markets.

Additionally, there is the problem of commodities, which may be real or artificial adulteration of product and high prices. In the light of the foregoing, some cooperative societies have been Incorporative to tackle some or all of these problem. The provision of goods and services at better and more affordable prices on a regular basis and at a right quality will definitely rise the standard of living of the citizen. This fact has really earned the cooperative societies, the assistance of government in all its ramifications.

However, the middleman in the channels of distribution wholesalers, retailer’s jobbers, agents etc. have been severally accused of one exploitative behavior or the other.

Inyanga (2008:24) among their marketing malpractice includes creation of artificial scarcity by collaborating to board goods, cheating both producers and consumers because of their poor financial position and bargaining power, adding excessive margins to make huge profit, coupled with false information. These malpractices exist because these channel members are different from the consumers and abnormal tendencies.

Kelvin (2003:81) study of cooperative in Nigeria, form a long history of formal cooperative dating back to 1907, when cocoa farmers established the first cooperative. Today, there are possible as many as 40,000 cooperatives in Nigeria of which producers and marketing association of cooperative and marketing of palm oil as a cash crop.

Cooperative societies in Nigeria, like the producers cooperative are known for their large scale production and marketing of cash crops. These crops are sold for money, such as cocoa, timber, palm oil, rubber, groundnuts, etc. but there has been a problem of low and food production and marketing of these cash crops. In the bid to back i.e. Nigeria agricultural production problem, various civilian and military governments look certain measures to normalize and boost the production capacity of agricultural produce in the country. Other schemes are national accelerated food production projects, agricultural development authorities agricultural development rural infrastructure (DFRR) were all set up by subsequent government to improve the production and marketability of farm products yet the problem remains.

COMMON COOPERATIVES THAT EXIST IN NIGERIA

Producers agricultural cooperative
Consumers cooperative
Multi-purpose cooperative
Thrift and credit society

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS

Despite the role cooperative societies plays in Nigeria, there are also problem they encountering in the marketing of cash crops. Source of these problems are;

Poor management
Insufficient capital accumulation
Lack of skilled personnel
Low level of cooperative education
Lack of members participation is also a major concern
Poor supervision
Government interference

Similarly, cash from part of the basic staple, food consumed is well over 90% of the entire household in the country with the size of Nigeria market, the industry is expected be presently attractive for profitable ventures. Unfortunately the producers of these commodities do not seen to be enjoying buoyant yield from their produce. The problem however, could be that they do not produce sufficient or at full capacity. Moreso, production is not to have been complete until produced items get to the final consumers. It appears, however that the producers of these goods do not enough to push the commodities to markets where the final consumers cash reach them, otherwise there should not be repair of glut or wastage of such as cash crops items.

The absence of marketing professionals could also make the marketing of cash crop difficult. The Nigeria agricultural sector has not know the importance of marketing in any branch of the economic structures. The marketing professionals who would have improved the marketability of palm oil as a cash crop is absent. The government has been distributing farm inputs using the agricultural extension officers without remembering that distribution is part of branch of marketing.

Distribution, which is known as physical distribution in marketing entails storage. Storage system is one of the problems racing the cash crop marketing in Nigeria. This storage problem may tend to affect the marketing in cash crops especially perishable ones.

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
Evaluating the level of adequacy of the preservation and storage facilities.
Evaluating the problem of lack of infrastructural facilities marketing of cash crop.
Evaluating promotional strategies embarking upon in the marketing of cash crops.
Evaluating the adequacy of market research which hinders the marketing of cash crops.
Evaluating the lack of market information, which limits the suggesting of cash crops.
Eliminating the price instability as it exists in the marketing of cash crops.
To make suggestions for improving in marketing of cash crops in Owerri North and also make recommendations for further studies based on the findings of the study.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Do the cooperative societies really come together to produce and market these cash crops?
Is the marketing and distribution system used by the cooperative society efficient and effective?
In what ways can modern marketing system help to improve the production and marketing of cash crops?
Are the cash crops produced in Owerri North, Imo State able to complete effectively with the imported ones?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research will serve as a guideline for the government and private agencies in reviving and reactivating the agricultural sector. This step will only be properly taken care of, when the government and private agencies appreciate the need and marketing in solving problems of cash crops marketing. This research will also show the importance of high level of marketing research involved in the marketing of products. It will also help other researchers and academician in enhancing their knowledge for further studies in similar areas for the students, this will serve as a guide in their classroom work.

Finally, this study is finding out how cash crops marketed in Owerri North, Imo State will help educate the local farmers on how agricultural marketing should be carried out at local level in the country.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

It is obviously difficult for the researchers to undertake the study of the universe of the cooperative societies and marketing of cash crops in Nigeria. Therefore, because of the uniformity in the cooperative societies, the marketing of cash crops in Nigeria is similar in many aspects.

The scope of this study was restricted to the cooperative society and marketing of cash crop in Imo State. The researcher considered producers and marketing association of cooperative society limited as integral parts of cooperative society and as being a representative of the whole populations. The findings based on this sample population are believed to represent what is obtainable from the part of the country, and can therefore serve as basis of assertion. In any attempt to explore the cooperative society and marketing of cash crop in Owerri North limitation will also encountered.

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The limitations covered the study of the producers and marketing association of cooperatives in Owerri North L.G.A. of Imo State. Some of the limitations encountered are;

Most of the producers of palm oil in Owerri North were mainly semi-literate or illiterate people. This caused a serious problem for the research because none of them had been exposed to the process of research project before. Therefore, it was very difficult trying to explain to them that the questionnaire distributed to them not tax payment rating.
Financial Constraints: This was another problem faced the researcher as to reach every farmer in Owerri North for more information.
Time: This was another problem faced the researcher as to attain other academic activities.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Agriculture: It can be defined as the process of cultivating plants and animals for the satisfaction of human wants/consumption. Agriculture is also the growing of crops and rearing of animals for human consumption.
Consumer: This is person who makes use or ends every products available in a particular period.
Cash Crops: These are crops sold for money and also they are crops that live for more than two years before coming to maturity.
Cooperative Society: This is an organizational arrangement which rosters cooperative in economic activities such as production, distribution or marketing with a view to enhancing mutual self help and promoting the economic interest and welfare of participating members (Ikwumezi 2001:66). Cooperative society is also a group of people or individual’s coming together to achieved a common goal.
Marketing: This is a total system of business activities designed to play price, promote and distribute wants (goods and services) satisfying present and potential buyers and sellers.

Stanton (1978:5) it could also be seen as business related activities that seek to anticipate demand helps in developing and making goods and services available to the satisfaction of the users.

Anyanwu (2001:21) marketing professionals: These are the people who make the producer readily available to the consumers or customers through market research and distribution.

Get the Complete Project

This is a premium project material and the complete research project plus questionnaires and references can be gotten at an affordable rate of N3,000 for Nigerian clients and $8 for international clients.

Click here to Get this Complete Project Chapter 1-5

You can also check other Research Project here: