THE ROLE OF MARKETING COOPERATIVES IN PROMOTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF GOODS (A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED MARKETING COOPERATIVES IN ENUGU NORTH LGA)

ABSTRACT The topic of this research work is to analyse the role of marketing cooperatives in promotion and distribution of goods in Enugu state with a special reference to Enugu North LGA in Enugu state. This report provides a comprehensive summary of basic information on the cooperative way of organizing and operating a business and distribution of goods. It covers the nature and extent of the use of cooperatives, compares cooperatives to other business structures, explains the roles various people play in a cooperative, and discusses equity accumulation and income taxation. The purpose is to make available, in a single report, the information someone would need to acquire a general understanding of how cooperatives function. The study will adopt a five chapter research work. Primary and secondary sources of date will be used to sources the data. The data gotten will be placed on tables and percentage method will be used for analysis. Summary of findings, recommendation and conclusion will be in the final chapter.    TABLE OF CONTENT Title page=========i Approval Page=========ii Dedication=========iii Acknowledgement ========iv Abstract==========v Table of content========vi
CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.0  Introduction========1 1.1Background of the study======1 1.2Statement of the problem=====3 1.3Objectives of the study======4 1.4Research questions ======5 1.5Research hypothesis======5 1.6Significance of the study======6 1.7Scope of the study=======7 1.8Limitation of the study======8
CHAPTER TWO 2.0 Review of related literature=====11 2.1 What is marketing 2.2 Meaning and definition of cooperative marketing= 2.3 Basic features of agricultural marketing === 2.4 Importance and need of cooperative marketing == 2.5 Roles of cooperative marketing ===== 2.6 Structure and organization of marketing coop. == 2.7 The problems of marketing cooperatives === 2.8 constraints of agricultural marketing ===  Reference 
CHAPTER THREE 3.0 Research Design and Methodology ====31 3.1 Research Design=======31 3.2 Area of the study=======31 3.3 Population of the study======32 3.4 Sample size and sampling technique===33 3.5 Method of data collection ======34 3.6 Research instrument used=====34 3.7 Validity and Reliability of the instrument==34 3.8 Method of data analysis======35
CHAPTER FOUR 4.0 Data presentation, analysis and interpretation==36 4.1 Introduction ======== 4.2 Socio Economic characteristics of Respondents = 4.3 Data Analysis ======== 4.4 Test of Hypothesis=======48
CHAPTER FIVE 5.0 Summary of findings, recommendation and conclusion 5.1 Findings=========52 5.2 Recommendation=======59 5.3 Conclusion========60 Reference Questionnaire Appendix
 INTRODUCTION
A marketing cooperative is an organization owned and operated by a group of farmers who produce similar products. Farmers join a marketing cooperative to gain more control in marketing their products so they can: increase the price they receive for their products; reduce the costs of marketing their produce and of obtaining agricultural inputs such as seed and fertilizer; and make the market for their goods more secure. The marketing cooperative (or co-op) accomplishes these objectives by: performing certain functions such as packing, storing, cooling, shipping, promoting, and selling; negotiating for better market terms because of volume and variety offered by their members; and buying production supplies (seeds, fertilizer, containers, etc.) in large volumes at lower prices. Marketing cooperatives help to sell their members' farm products and maximize the return that they receive for these goods.  Their operations can be quite diversified and complex.  Some marketing cooperatives perform a limited number of functions, while others vertically integrate their operations so that they perform more functions that add value to their members' products as they move from the farm to the consumer.  Some cooperatives even sell products in grocery stores under their own brand name; Land O' Lakes and Ocean Spray are two prominent examples.   Marketing cooperatives can serve their members in many ways, including bargaining for better prices, storing and selling members' grain, and processing farm products into more consumer-ready goods.  In the United States, agricultural cooperatives handle about 30 percent of farmers' total farm marketing volume (Mother et al.).