Roles of Cooperative Societies in Aquaculture Development: A Case Study of Some Local Government Areas in Rivers State, Nigeria Roles of Cooperative Societies in Aquaculture Development: A Case Study of Some Local Government Areas in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

The roles of farmer’s cooperative societies in aquaculture development in two local government areas:
Obio-Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government of Rivers State were investigated, using randomly
distributed questionnaires. The results indicated that most (70.0%) of the respondents were females,
within the age bracket of 26–50 years (72.4%), and they are married (70.0%), with household size
of 5–10 (68.75%). The results further revealed that majority of the respondents (97.5%) had formal
education, with 1–10 years of experience as a cooperative member (75.3%). Culture of fish (40.0%) and
marketing (25.0%) of fish were the major activities carried out by the cooperative societies. Analysis
of the benefits derived from the society by the members indicated that the highest (42.5%) and lowest
(3.3%) were in obtaining credit facilities and gaining access to land, respectively. The roles of cooperative
societies in the development of aquaculture include accessibility to government intervention policies in
aquaculture (33.75%), provision of subsidized input (6.25%), increased returns (25.00%), and improved
culture techniques (6.25%). However, insufficient capital accumulation (43.75%) and communal crisis
and mismanagement (30.0%) are the major constraints faced by the cooperative societies in discharge
of their duties. In conclusion, continued existence and operation of cooperative societies have to be
encouraged. Hence, more farmers should be encouraged to join, and the government should increase
the supply of credit facilities to these societies for the sustainable development of aquaculture in these
communities.