COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF POVERTY STATUS OF COOPERATIVE AND NONCOOPERATIVE COCOA FARMERS IN OVIA NORTH-EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

The study examined the comparative analysis of poverty status of cooperative and non-cooperative cocoa farmers in Edo State, using Foster Greer and Thorbecke poverty measure. A total number of 120 farm households were used for this study, comprising of 60 cooperative farmers and 60 non-cooperative farmers in Owan-West Local Government Area, Edo State. A multi-stage purposive sampling technique was used in this study to select the respondents. Descriptive statistics such frequency counts, percentage, mean and standard deviation as well as Foster, Greer and Thorbecke will be used to analyze the objectives of this study.

The result gotten from the socio-economic characteristics show that majority (68.3%) of cooperative members were male while 31.7% were female and majority (65%) of non-cooperative members were male and 35% were female. The FGT analysis showed that 45% of cooperative members are below the poverty line while 55% are classified as non-poor. 65% of non-cooperative members are below the poverty line while 35% are classified as non-poor. The result therefore entails that the poverty status varies in both cooperative and non-cooperative members, with a lower percentage of poverty status in cooperative members and a higher percentage in non-cooperative members.