Npr - The Role Of Cooperatives In Achieving Healthy Agriculture In Nigeria

This paper examines the state of health of Nigerian agriculture. The purpose of the study was to investigate the success of some of the various efforts of Government to improved agriculture in Nigeria overtime and to recommend approach for improvement. Government programmes and projects in the past were briefly assessed for effectiveness, sustainability or continuity. The results revealed that practically all the nine programmes and projects examined followed similar pattern in lacking commensurate success and continuity. The main reason for this was the perception of the people that the programmes and projects were those of government needing no personal commitment. Resources were not used with economics consciousness and profit orientation. Coupled with this, and more importantly was the high poverty level of the farmers which makes it difficult to procure necessary inputs for modern agricultural practices to increase production. Hence, there is need to evolve a means of injecting capital that can be effectively utilized in Agriculture. The paper thus recommends the involvement of cooperatives to ensure proper commitment of funds that will bring about desired results. This is borne out of the positive characteristics of cooperatives highlighted such as selflessness, ensuring equity, togetherness and provisional support for members among others. Cooperative is a proven organ of empowerment for the people to improve their lots.