Determinants of income inequality among members of farmers cooperative societies in anambra state, nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the determinants of income inequality among members of Farmers Cooperative Societies in Anambra State,Nigeria. The specific objectives are to examine the influence of farming technique, farm size, input supply, credit obtained on the income of members of Farmers Cooperatives in Anambra State using a descriptive statistics like frequency, percentages, mean,standard deviation and regression technique of the ordinary least square on a sample of 290 respondents. Findings revealed that farming technique, farm size, input supply and credit obtained have significant influence on the income of members of Farmers Cooperative Societies in Anambra State. The study concludes that all the four coefficients (farming technique, farm size, input supply and credit obtained) are significant determinants of income inequality among members of Farmers Cooperative Societies in Anambra State, Nigeria. The variables also have direct and positive relationship with income inequality among members of Farmers Cooperative Societies in Anambra State. Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are made:The government should enlighten the members of Farmers Cooperative Societies in Anambra State on new and improve farming technique to enable them improve their productivity and income. The government should assist members of Farmers Cooperative in Anambra State with access to adequate farm land particularly in the government farm settlements. This will enable them increase their farm size, productivity and consequently income. The societies' leadership and government agency supplying input should make input supply to be adequate and timely. The agricultural cooperative subsector should be adequately financed to help improve the farmers’ income and also reduce income inequality.