Abstract:
The study examined factors affecting member participation in co-operatives and the relationship
between participation and the performance of Mashima and Tarakea Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Societies (AMCOs). The objectives of the study were to assess socio-economic
characteristics of AMCOs members, identify factors affecting members' participation in AMCOs
activities and determine the relationship between members' participation and AMCOs
performance. The study adopted case study research design. This study involved 148 respondents
from Mashima and Tarakea AMCOs. Convenience and purposive samplings were applied in this
study. Data collection methods involved the use of questionnaire, interview, documentary review
and observation. Data were analysed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).
Descriptive statistics, which involve standard deviation, mean, percentage, tables and figures were
used to present the data. The findings revealed that member's participation in AMCOs activities is
influenced by several factors such as; patronage, leadership, entrepreneurship skills, quality of
service, collective action, size of the farm, and member education. The study also found that there
is a significant relationship between member participation and the performance of AMCOs
whereby Pearson correlation between member participation and the performance of AMCOs was
0.766, while sig (2-tailed) value was P — value 0.05. In order to improve member participation in
AMCOs, the study recommends that co-operative leaders should involve members in the decisionmaking process and implementation of such decision, not only in AGM but also in any perspective
during the progress of AMCOs activities so as to activate member participation.
