4.

DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

This chapter outlines the analysis of data collected from the respondents through questionnaire. A total number of one hundred questionnaires were administered to the respondents and were properly filled. The break down is the tabulated in the table below 4.1 DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF RESPONDENTS

Table 1: Distribution of Respondents according to gender Gender Female Male Total Source: field survey, 2010 From the above table, 46 respondents representing 46% of the total sample are female while 54 respondents representing 54% of the sample are male. Result: from the table above, the number of male respondents are more than the female respondents. 46 54 100 Frequency 46 54 100 Percentage %

Table 2: Distribution of Respondents according to marital status Marital Status Single Married Divorced Total Source: field survey, 2010 From the above table, 22 respondents representing 22% of the total sample are single while 72 respondents representing 72% of the sample are married, it can however be deduced, that only 6 respondents are divorced. Frequency 22 72 6 100 Percentage % 22 72 6 100

Table 3: Distribution of Respondents according to age Age bracket 20-30 31-40 41-50 Total Source: field survey, 2010 From table 3 above, 29 farmers representing 29% of the total respondents are between the age of 20-30, 30% of the respondents are within 31 years and 40 years, while 41 respondents of the total sample representing 41% are aged 41-50 4.2 TESTING OF HYPOTHESIS USING CHI-SQUARE METHOD Frequency 29 30 41 100 Percentage % 29 30 41 100

It is mathematically given as X2 = (fo-fe)2 fe Where: fo = observed frequency fe = expected frequency Note; Decision rule, reject Ho if X2c > X2t. Degree of freedom (r-1)(c-1) where r is the number of rows in the contingency table and c is the number of columns in the contingency table.

4.3 H0:

TESTING FOR HYPOTHESIS ONE There is no significant relationship between cooperative society and poverty

alleviation among rural farmers

H1:

There is significant relationship between cooperative society and poverty

alleviation among rural farmers The result of the chi-square analysis is therefore presented below to test whether the null hypothesis should be accepted or the alternative hypothesis Respons es Observe d value Expecte d value Df XCalculate d SA A D SD 60 34 0 6 25 25 25 25 3 21.880 7.814 0.05 XCritical value Accept alternati ve hypothe sis SOURCE: SPSS statistical package P Decision

Discussion: From the above chi-square summary table, it shows that the calculated X2 statistics is 21.880 while the critical value is 7.814 at 5% level of significance with 3 as the degree of freedom. The rule of thumb guiding the acceptability of a particular hypothesis in chi-square states that when the X2 calculated is greater than X2 critical, we are to accept the alternative hypothesis and reject the null hypothesis. On the other hand, if the critical value is greater than the calculated value, we accept the null hypothesis and reject the alternative hypothesis. Therefore, since the first condition is certified as the calculated value is greater than the critical value i.e X 2 cal > X2 critical, hence, accept the alternative hypothesis which states there is significant relationship between cooperative society and poverty alleviation among rural farmers.

4.3 H0:

TESTING FOR HYPOTHESIS TWO There is no significant relationship between farmers perception about

cooperative society and poverty alleviation among rural farmers. H1: There is no significant relationship between farmers perception about

cooperative society and poverty alleviation among rural farmers. The result of chi-square analysis is therefore presented below to test whether the null hypothesis should be accepted or the alternative hypothesis RESPONSE S OBSERVED VALUE EXPECTED VALUE DF XCALCULATED XCRITICAL VALUE SA A D SD 38 46 12 4 25 25 25 25 3 18.325 7.814 0.0 5 Accept the alternativ e hypothesi s Source: SPSS Statistical Package Discussion: From the above chi-square summary table, it shows that the calculated X2 statistics is 18.325 while the critical value is 7.814 at 5% level of significance with 3 as the degree of freedom. Since the X2 calculated is greater than the X2 tabulated or critical we accept the alternative hypothesis that there is significant relationship P DECISION

between farmers perception about cooperative society and poverty alleviation among rural farmers.

CHAPTER FIVE 5.0 5.1 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION SUMMARY

For the purpose of this research, two hypotheses were tested, of all the hypotheses tested, the two null hypotheses were rejected. Hypothesis one states that there is no significant relationship between cooperative society and poverty alleviation among rural farmers, hypothesis two states that there is no significant relationship between farmers perception about cooperative society and poverty alleviation among rural farmers. The analysis of the first hypothesis however showed that there is significant relationship between cooperative society and poverty alleviation among rural farmers. This is not unconnected with the views of Adekanmi and Fasugba (2003) who jointly opined that cooperative society is a potent tool in reducing the rate of spread of poverty among rural dwellers, especially farmers. Again, they said that cooperatives

provide the opportunity for poor people to raise their incomes; they are democracies empowering people to own their own solutions; they increase security for the members; and they contribute directly and indirectly to agricultural productivity.
In hypothesis two, the null hypothesis was rejected and it was concluded that there is significant relationship between farmers perception about cooperative society and poverty alleviation among rural farmers. This seems unacceptable but it agrees with the discovery of Olofin (2007) in his studies on the agricultural advancement in rural

areas, with special reference to rural areas in Nigeria as a case study. The study found that rural farmers see cooperative society as a mere waste of time. This is due to the fact that most of the rural farmers are not educated. The lack of knowledge of how cooperative society operates is another problem. This however limits the involvement of rural farmers in cooperative societies. Hence, poverty is not

alleviated in rural areas. Below are some conclusions and suggestions to improve farm productively and as well enhance poverty alleviation among rural farmers 5.2 CONCLUSIONS Based on the research findings the researcher was able to conclude on the following;

The role of cooperative society as a tool to poverty alleviation is becoming one of the most
important and widely discussed issues in contemporary agricultural policy (Tricaud, P. M. (1987) That apart from the use of ICT, several variables affect the performance of students like home factors, schools size, teachers experience and efficiency etc Students who are exposed to the use of technology perform better than their disadvantaged counterpart. That the introduction of e-learning centers had been limited to the tertiary institution at the expense of the secondary schools and even at the primary levels too. 5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the findings of this research, the researcher wishes to advance the following recommendations to policy makers and stakeholders.

i.
Ii

That the introduction of Information technology should not be limited to the tertiary institutions but also to secondary schools with specific references to junior secondary schools. that there is significant relationship between farmers perception about

cooperative society and poverty alleviation among rural farmers, this implies that the positive perception of farmers as regards cooperative society will definitely bring about poverty alleviation Iii That there is significant relationship between cooperative society and poverty

alleviation among rural farmers. This implies that a slit positive change in the attitude

of rural farmers to cooperative society will significantly bring about reduction in the spread of poverty among rural dwellers, especially rural farmers.

ii.
5.4

Government and policy makers, should formulate and implement policies that will make for profitable agricultural practices among rural farmers SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDIES

Bearing in mind the earlier stated limitation to this study, it is pertinent that other interested researcher could explore other related aspect of this study. Such areas include; 1. 2. Globalization and its impact on urban-rural development Comparative Analysis of the Performance rural farmers in nation building.