PROMOTING SMALL SCALE ENTERPRISES IN THE RURAL AREAS THROUGH COOPERATIVES WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON ENUGU STATE

Abstract

The researcher investigated the impact of co-operative society in promotion of self-reliance and small scale enterprise especially in Enugu East local government area in Enugu State. The broad objective of the study is to examine the impact of co-operative in promoting self-reliance and small scale enterprise with special focus on Enugu East L.G.A Enugu State. The constraint of the study was lack of adequate capital to facilitate production, over dependency on government, persistence of agriculture stagnation, poverty, unemployment, poor housing, under-employment, poor infrastructure facilities, and lack of productive, technical and managerial skill to improve production. In order to identify roles co-operative societies play in promotion of self-reliance and small scale enterprise, the members from four selected Co-operatives Societies in Enugu east co-operative societies were sampled. The area of study is Enugu east local government area. The population of study is 753. Due to the inability of the researcher to study the entire population, sample sizes of 261 were selected using taro yamani's formula out of 261 questionnaire distributed only 220 were return to validate the results of the analysis. The techniques use was questionnaire. The findings of the study were that member of co-operative societies in Enugu east are averagely literate, their occupation includes trading, farming, and craft work although some are civil servants. Their co-operative society promotes development of small and medium scale business enterprise in the area by giving loans to members which they used to embark on business.

Small and medium scale business enterprises in the area have some difficulties such as inadequate funds, smallness of capital, lack of technical know-how etc. Recommendations were also made on how to solve these problems. Such recommendation were; acquiring an extension service agent, continuous member education to enable them acquire necessary skills and experience for their business. The co-operative societies should embark on sourcing of funds to accelerate completion of the projects at hand. This can be achieved through obtaining loan from banks. The cooperative societies of Enugu east should embark on productive ventures to make their societies self supporting and capable of becoming supportive rather than being dependent on government.