Influence of Agricultural Cooperatives in Agribusiness Financing in Okrika LGA, Rivers State

This study is centered on the influence of cooperatives in agribusiness financing in Okrika LGA of Rivers State, Nigeria. It is believed that cooperative societies are a genuine tool for financing agribusiness. The study specifically ascertain the type of cooperative in the study area; it identifies the activities the cooperative societies are engaged in and how it affects the members; compare the exposure of cooperative members to agribusiness before and after joining the cooperative societies; find out the perception of cooperative members and the influence of their cooperative on their development; ascertain the challenges the cooperatives and their members face in financing agribusiness. Primary data were sourced through questionnaires, while secondary data were obtained from literary works and documents. The study found that socioeconomic characteristics of agricultural cooperative members has no significant influence on agribusiness financing in the study area. There is a significant change in activeness of cooperative members to agribusiness activities before and after their membership of cooperative society.