How Agriculture Cooperatives and Smart Farming, Can Solve Graduate Unemployment In Nigeria (Part 1)

Recent figures form the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that unemployment increased in Nigeria by 1.5 million to stand at 13.9% with youth unemployment at 25% percent. In real numbers, this translates to 11.2 million Nigerians are unemployed as at the end of 2016. Majority of these are graduates, who continue to roam the streets for jobs after many toils to obtain a degree. Whereas the government and private sectors continue to say they are doing their best, there seem to be no end in sight to youth unemployment in Nigeria. This articles focuses on how young graduates can help themselves through agricultural cooperatives integrated with smart farming to liberate themselves from the shackles of unemployment.

Cooperatives are known to many as an association of people with similar interests, and rightly so. But this same concept is the reason many people neglect it or consider it as something for rural dwellers or market women and farmers. Again due to the limited knowledge and skills on the part of the people involved in the management of existing cooperatives, the results from these groups are not pronounced as to get the positive attention of people to see the opportunities that exists therein. More of the things that draw our attentions to cooperatives are the disputes of embezzlement and mismanagement of fund.

On the other hand, whereas many young people in Africa especially graduates see agriculture or farming as the rural poor’s affair,  innovative techniques in agriculture which I have tagged smart farming, has made a number of young people to gradually embrace farming as a viable alternative to white collar jobs. Smart farming focuses on improved agricultural technologies that make farming more interesting, more profitable and attractive to young people.

In this article series, I have focused effort on providing some insights into the propensities for investment in cooperatives for graduates (employed or not), low income earners or indeed anyone interested in low risk investments, with bias in agriculture and farming.

Agricultural cooperatives

An agricultural cooperative or cooperative society is an association of farmers or small agro-investors who agree to come together and engage one another, for the purpose of amplifying their common economic/investment needs and improving the business of each member. The International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) defined a cooperative society is “an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.

The idea of cooperative societies historically has been associated with the mechanization of the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century. More and more skilled workers were being forced into poverty, until some of them decided to band together to open their own store, selling food items they could not otherwise afford. With lessons from prior failed attempts at co-operation in mind, they designed the now famous Rochdale Principles, and over a period of four months, they struggled to pool one pound sterling per person for a total of 28 pounds of capital. On December 21, 1844, they opened their store with a very meager selection of butter, sugar, flour, oatmeal and a few candles. Within three months, they expanded their selection to include tea and tobacco, and they were soon known for providing high quality, unadulterated goods. (Credit: The History of Cooperative Movement, Wikipedia).

A number of authors have identified cooperatives as one of the most powerful channels of investment, with agriculture projected to continue to grow as a result of increasing population, agriculture cooperative society is the best way for low-income earners to play a part in the upcoming real agricultural revolution. It is regrettable that only a fraction of the society are tapping into and enjoying these opportunities currently. It sad to say that even the government; based on my observation, is yet to realize how powerful agricultural cooperative societies can be, especially in eradicating poverty and improving welfare of the citizens.  There remain a lot of opportunities for more growth and investment in agriculture, and if fully exploited, agricultural cooperatives can enhance job creation and improve national productivity.

The Principles of Cooperatives
Cooperative organizations have a number of characteristics in common:

•  Membership is open and on voluntary basis.
• They are democratically controlled by members.
• Members contribute equitably to capital.
• They are an autonomous and independent entity.
• They provide education, training and information to members
• They can cooperate with similar organizations for a mutually beneficial cause.
• They are concerned with members’ and community’s development.

 Members have common interests, responsibilities and benefits are also shared.  Perhaps cooperatives are the least stressful and risky ways to save, invest, and improve personal welfare.

In the next post, we will look at the various ways agricultural cooperatives benefit their members, their community and the society.

Thank you for taking time to go through this post.

Are you a member of agricultural cooperative or other types of cooperatives in your community? Do you know of any agricultural cooperative in your community? Have you considered joining or forming an agricultural cooperative before now? Will you consider it after now? How has this article influenced you?

I will like to read your comments and questions here please use the comment box below.