Assessment of leadership effectiveness among the executives and members of farmers’ cooperative societies in Osun State, Nigeria: Implication for agricultural development

Abstract

The study assessed the leadership effectiveness among the executives and members of farmers’ cooperative societies in Osun State, Nigeria. A structured interview schedule was used to gather quantitative data from 50 executives and 75 members of farmers’ cooperative societies across the state. Data were processed through IBM SPSS version 23. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that the majority (84%, 78.7%) of leaders and members were male and members were male while (98%, 94.5 %) were married with a mean age of 47.46 ± 13.73 and 40.36 ± 10.13 years. Also, the majority of the cooperative leaders emerged through election and mostly selected into leadership position based on active participation in cooperative activites. The majority of the leaders were very effective in leading discussions during meetings (mean=2.90) and managing cooperatives operations (mean=2.63). Also, irregular payment of loans and inadequate trainings were the problems facing leadership effectiveness. Years of farming experience (r= 0.788) and years of cooperative membership (r= 0.731) were significantly related to leadership effectiveness. It is concluded that, in order to enhance leaders’ effectiveness and consequently, agricultural development, capacity building through regular training, and workshops should be organised by relevant stakeholders.

Keywords

• Agricultural development
• Constraints
• farmers’ cooperative leaders
• performance
• socio-economic attributes

Nijerya’nın Osun Eyaletindeki çiftçi kooperatif birliklerinin yöneticileri ve üyeleri arasındaki liderlik etkinliğinin değerlendirilmesi: Tarımsal kalkınmaya etkisi

Öz

Bu çalışmada, Nijerya’nın Osun Eyaletindeki çiftçi kooperatifi derneklerinin yöneticileri ve üyeleri arasındaki liderlik etkinliği değerlendirilmiştir. Eyalet çapındaki çiftçi kooperatiflerinin 50 yöneticisinden ve 75 üyesinden niceliksel veri toplamak için yapılandırılmış bir görüşme programı kullanılmıştır. Veriler IBM SPSS sürüm 23 aracılığıyla işlenmiştir. Verilerin analizinde tanımlayıcı ve çıkarımsal istatistikler kullanılmıştır. Bulgular, lider ve üyelerin çoğunluğunun (%84, %78,7) erkek, üyelerin ise erkek olduğunu, ortalama yaşlarının ise 47,46±13,73 ve 40,36±10,13 yıl olduğunu, (%98, %94,5) evli olduklarını ortaya çıkarmıştır. Ayrıca kooperatif liderlerinin çoğunluğu seçim yoluyla ortaya çıkmış ve çoğunlukla kooperatif faaliyetlerine aktif katılıma dayalı olarak liderlik pozisyonuna seçilmişlerdir. Liderlerin çoğunluğunun toplantılar sırasındaki tartışmaları yönlendirmede (ortalama=2,90) ve kooperatif operasyonlarını yönetmede (ortalama=2,63) oldukça etkili olduğu belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca kredilerin düzensiz ödenmesi ve yetersiz eğitimler de liderliğin etkinliğinin karşılaştığı sorunlar arasındadır. Çiftçilik deneyimi yılı (r= 0,788) ve kooperatif üyeliği yılı (r= 0,731) liderlik etkinliği ile önemli ölçüde ilişkili görülmüştür. Liderlerin etkinliğini ve dolayısıyla tarımsal kalkınmayı artırmak için ilgili paydaşlar tarafından düzenli eğitimler yoluyla kapasite geliştirme ve çalıştaylar düzenlenmesi gerektiği sonucuna varılmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Tarımsal kalkınma
• Kısıtlamalar
• çiftçi kooperatifi liderleri
• performans
• sosyo-ekonomik özellikler

References

1. Adefila, J.O. (2012). Spatial assessment of farmers’ cooperative organizations in agricultural development in Gurara area of Niger State, Nigeria. Journal Ecology, and Natural Environment, 4 (2), 51-57. http://dx.doi.org/10.5897/JENE11.092
2. Adefila, J., & Madaki, J. (2014). Roles of farmers cooperatives in agricultural development in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State, Nigeria. Journal Economic and Sustainable Development, 5 (12), 80-87.
3. Adisa, B.O., Famakinwa, M., Adeloye, K.A., & Adigun, A.O. (2022). Crop farmers’ coping strategies for mitigating conflicts with cattle herders: Evidence from Osun State, Nigeria. Agricultura Tropica et Subtropica, 55 OV, 191-201. https://doi.org/10.2478/ats-2022-0020
4. Afolayanm, S.O., Iyilade, A.O., & Windapo, O. (2021). Group and Leadership in Agricultural Extension in Agricultural Extension in Nigeria. 3rd edition, Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria, pp. 221-244.
5. Akangbe, J.A., Komolafe, S.E., Ajibola, B.O., & Abdul-Karim, I.F. (2014). An Assessment of Agricultural Cooperatives Leadership Style in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. Production Agrculture and Technology (PAT), 10 (2), 193-202.
6. Attah, A.J., Mbah, E.N., & Okeke, M.N. (2018). Prospects of cooperative society for sustainable agriculture among smallholder farmers in Benue State, Nigeria. International Journal of Applied Agricultural Science, 4 (5), 103-109. http://dx.doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaas.20180405.11
7. Bezabih, E. (2012). Cooperative movement in Ethiopia. Workshop on Perspectives for Cooperatives in Eastern Africa, October 2-3, 2012, Uganda.
8. Dayanandan, R., & Huka, R. (2019). Determinants of leadership efficiency in cooperative organization: An investigation. International Journal Research in Social Sciences, 9 (2), 121-151.

9. Deji, O.F., Alabi, D.L., Famakinwa, M., & Faniyi, E.O. (2023). Utilisation of artificial intelligence-based technology for agricultural extension services among extension professionals in Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Extension, 27 (3) 80-92. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jae.v27i3.9
10. Echetama, J.A., Ani, A.O, & Onoh, P.A. (2017). Assessing roles of local leaders in agricultural ınformation dissemination in Owerri Agricultural Zone of Imo State Nigeria. FUTO Journal Series, 3 (1), 1-12.
11. Famakinwa, M., Adisa, B.O., & Alabi, D.L. (2019). Factors ınfluencing role performance of community leaders in rural development activities in South-Western Nigeria. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 67 (2), 473-483. http://dx.doi.org/10.11118/actaun201967020473
12. Famakinwa, M., Adeloye, K.A., & Oni, O.O. (2023). Farmers’ adapation strategies to mitigate climate impacts on cocoa production: experience from Osun State, Nigeria. Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi Tarım Bilimleri Dergisi, 28 (3), 489-501. https://doi.org/10.37908/mkutbd.1256780
13. Farmsquare. (2023). Creating agricultural cooperative in Nigeria: A step-by-step guide. Available at https://farmsquare.ng/creating-agricultural-cooperative/
14. Faniyi, E., Deji, O. F., Olowoyo, O., Sulaimon, W., & Aduwo, O. (2020). Gender analysis of factors ınfluencing soil and water conservation technology utilisation among vegetable farmers in Ekiti and Oyo States, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Rural Sociology, 20 (2), 92-98.
15. Garnevska, E., Liub, G., & Shadboltc, N.M. (2011). Factors for successful development of farmer cooperatives in northwest China. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, 14 (4), 69-84.
16. Hailemariam, M., Tadele, Y., & Markos, J. (2017). Assessment of the role of agricultural cooperatives in achieving socio-economic development in Sululta Woreda, Oromia Special Zone. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Health, 7 (21), 5-14.
17. Ibitoye, S.J. (2012). Survey of the performance of agricultural cooperative societies in Kogi State, Nigeria. European Science Journal, 8 (28), 98-114.
18. International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) (2010). Retrieved 1, October, 2011. http://www.ica.coop/.ss
19. Karunakaran, R., & Huka, R. (2018). Leadership skills in primary multipurpose cooperative societies in Ethiopia. Agricultural Economics and Research and Review, 31 (1), 131-139. https://doi.org/10.5958/0974-0279.2018.00013.7
20. Lemmi, M.D., & Nakkiran, S. (2019). Effectiveness of Leadership on business performance of farmers agricultural cooperative unions in Horo Guduru Wollega Zone, Ethiopia. International Journal of Science Research, 9 (12), 282-290. http://dx.doi.org/10.29322/IJSRP.9.12.2019.p9633
21. Mina, J.C. (2019). Attainment of Cooperative objectives and the performance of officers in performing their management functions: A case of cooperatives in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija. International Journal of Advance Engineering, Management and Science, 5 (11), 577-587.
22. Mohamad, M., & Majid, A.M. (2014). Servant leadership in social enterprise (Cooperative): do they fit, a review of literatüre. International Journal of Business Economics and Law, 4 (1), 38-44.
23. Muhammed, N., & Lee, B.W. (2015). Role of cooperatives in rural development: the case of South Nations Nationalities and People Region, Ethiopia. Science Journal of Business Management, 3 (4), 102-108. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjbm.20150304.12
24. Nlerum, F.E., & Ogu, P. (2014). Role of farmers’ cooperative societies in rural development in Nigeria. Journal Rural Cooperative, 42 (2), 154-162. http://dx.doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.249777
25. Nnadozie, A.O., Oyediran, A.G., Njouku, I.A., & Okoli, K.C. (2015). Nigerian agricultural cooperatives and rural development in Ivo L.G.A. Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Global Journal Management and Business Research, 15 (4), 148-157.
26. Nyawo, P.H., & Olorunfemi, O.D. (2023). Perceived effectiveness of agricultural cooperatives by smallholder farmers: evidence from a micro-level survey in North-Eastern South Africa. Sustainability, 15, 10354. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310354
27. Ofuoku, A.U. (2012). Criteria for selection of leaders among farmers’ groups for sustainable agricultural development in Delta State, Nigeria. Spanish Journal Rural Development, 3 (2), 41-48. https://doi.org/10.5261/2012.GEN2.04
28. Ofuoku, A.U. (2015). Farm operations cooperative in Central Agricultural Zone of Delta State, Nigeria. Ege Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi, 52 (3), 327-334.
29. Ojimba, T.P., Odili, D., & Iroegbu, N.B. (2018). Role of co-operative organizations in agricultural development in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Direct Research Journal of Social Science and Educational Studies, 5 (4), 49-56.
30. Simkhada, N.R., & Bhattarai, P.C. (2023). The quest for leadership qualities in cooperative societies: An exploratory analysis. Heliyon, 9, e20109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20109
31. Statista (2023). Contribution of agriculture to GDP in Nigeria from the 3rd quarter of 2019 to the 3rd quarter of 2021. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1193506/contribution-of-agriculture-to-gdp-in-nigeria/
32. Yamusa, I., & Adefila, J.O. (2014). Farmers’ cooperatives and agricultural development in Kwali Area Council Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nigeria. International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 47 (1), 161-169.