The study was undertaken to assess the performance of rice farmers co-operative
in Enugu state. A total of 70 respondent members of cooperative society were selected
for the study using proportionate random sampling technique in a multi stage sampling
procedure. Data for the study were collected by the use of structured interview schedule
and analysed using frequency distribution, percentage, mean statistics, standard deviation
and factor analysis (using varimax rotation on principal component analysis model). The
results of the finding of the study revealed that majority (74.5%) of the respondent were
males and majority (88.6%) also were married, the mean age of the respondents was 45
yrs. The average membership size was 24 persons while the majority (81.4%) of the
cooperative members belong to multipurpose cooperative society and the majority
(91.4%) also had leadership structure constituted by election. ADP/MOA (M= 2.6), NGO
(M= 3.0), credit institution (M = 3.9) had strong linkage with cooperative societies. The
most common interest area (95.71%) of the respondent was high productivity. The
finding also revealed that the most perceived effect of cooperative on livelihood of
members was skill empowerment (M= 3.4). Also the majority (90%) of the farmers saw
access to input at subsidized rate as benefits derived from belonging to cooperative
society. Assistance in preparation of nursery as well as providing information on
consumer preference (M = 4.5) are perceived as major role performed by rice cooperative
society. Competition from private firm had a higher mean rating (M = 3.7) as the problem
affecting rice farmers cooperative. The results of the analysis further grouped the several
problems affecting rice farmers cooperative into organizational, institutional poor support
and production/processing problems. With regards to factor for enhancing rice farmers
cooperative, enhancing linkage interaction with relevant institutions rated highest (M =
3.7). A further analysis of factor enhancing the performance of rice cooperative societies
grouped various factor, into economic, linkage, training and developmental and
leadership factors. The study therefore recommended that their should be a strong linkage
between rice farmers cooperative societies and government as well as non governmental
organization for purposes of information sharing, training and manpower development.