Problems And Prospect Of Consumers Cooperatives

1.0 INTRODUCTION
The consumer cooperative society toady is going through some difficulties in the local government of Idemili North Consumer cooperative has been concerned with a systematic, preservation and the dissemination of knowledge in the system. This consumer cooperative has not been very successful in Idemili North due to problems surrounding them. This society would be a better and more effective society if they have formed themselves into cooperative registered society according to the law.

1.1 GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY
The consumer cooperative society has been intimately concerned with acquisition, systematic, preservation and dissemination of her cooperative knowledge. As they proceed, there is need to make these Observations being recorded in journals, and books. Other non materials more accessible to users for convenient and immediate consultation to the members become more imperative.
The infrastructure for affective communication network needs to be established in their various zone of operations provision of reliable roads and associated facilities to alleviate the general rigors/dangers the members encounter when carrying out transaction to distant market places.
Consumer and marketing cooperative have not been very successful in Idemili North due to problems surrounding them. There would be a better and more effective society if they had formed themselves into cooperatives registered according to law.
These are because of the predominance of illiteracy. They lack the education and enlightenment programme which have helped to enhance the level of performance and understanding of what consumer cooperative is all about. Historical knowledge has always been considered a necessary step for discussing contemporary issue as regards to the present. It gives insight into the nature of problems and directs attention to what is going on around the consumer cooperative in Idemili North of Anambra State.
Consumer cooperative in Idemili North coordinated better methods of farming and encouraged the farmers creativity. They protected the farmers interest as well as selling quality goods at affordable rates.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
This project covers the problems faced by the consumer cooperative in Idemili North Local council. Idemili North as a geographical reference for this project has some factors which affects the consumer cooperative society. They as follow:
1. Lack of trust among it’s members ie there is no trust among the consumer cooperative members in Idemili north of Anambra State.
2. Incompetence in the executive of consumer cooperative of Idemili North.
3. Lack of capital to carry out large scale retail trading and transactions in Idemili North.
4. There is stiff competition from low lost traders in Idemili North. There are equally other sources which sell consumer goods at cheaper rates. Consumer cooperative were unable to withstand this competition.
5. Management problems – Inefficiency which led to the wrong people being chosen as the right one. The rudiment nature of bookkeeping might turn to stealing/diversion of funds by manipulation of fraud.
6. Members are mostly illiterates
7. Storage of distributions of goods
8. Sales of adulterated goods by there members.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The study is being written to make it clear the aim and objectives of consumer cooperatives. Providing questions and providing solutions (prospects) to the following problems.
1. Moreover, this is to identify the minor and major problems of consumer cooperative in Idemili North L.G.A perhaps to assess the prospects of consumer cooperative and how their operations can be modernized to the recent standards.
2. To know this, consumer cooperative has to specify their system of operative and activities so as to achieve maximum effectiveness.
3. It would help to know the number of consumer cooperative in Anambra State particularly Idemili North.
4. To make recommendation on how consumer cooperative would re-enhance its programmes.
Again, to improve on consumer cooperative education scheme which will provide member with expounded knowledge of the cooperative. Nevertheless, introducing its procedure and techniques, how cooperative share their dividend surplus to the members.

1.4 SCOPE PF THE STUDY
1. This will enable the member to see and know the importance of this association in which they are
2. It will equally decode to them the importance of being learned and education cooperative members.
3. Stronger and weaker members, the alternative to improve in their performance.
4. The techniques of their operations to professional standard.
5. Eradication of incompetence and inefficiency were clarified.
This study was carried out in Idemili North L.G.A, Anambra State – Directors and members of consumer cooperative were constituted as the population.
The contents of the consumer cooperative as it effects the organization activities in the L.G.A

1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
How can we bring the problems and prospect of consumer cooperative society understudy?
What role dose consumer cooperative play in order to set up their targets and objectives, usefulness, economic reliability, shortcomings and relevance in this modern time.
Is cooperative relevant in Nigeria and what are the benefits of cooperative society in Nigeria.
How can we correct the weakness that occur in consumer cooperative society.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The importance of the study cannot be over emphasized because of the some categories of people in consumer and market cooperative society. The exercise has helped the consumer cooperative to see the need for consistent evaluation of learning/operative for the improvement of the state in general.
The consumer cooperative will have a significant benefit as a result of improving the marketing techniques for large distribution.
However, this will help to uplift consumer cooperative and its knowledge, to the standard of emulation by the Idemili North consumer cooperative. More so, it will help the student on the project write up (ND).
While planning the curriculum of consumer cooperative, the findings of the study will enable then to create interest on consumer cooperative activities.
Finally, hope that by discovering the problems of the study, it will encourage the consumer cooperative to work greatly towards specification for higher achievements and their progress.

1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The study was limited by certain factors; the continuous strike condition to the members. Nonchalant attitude of some members as well as directors made the research study a little difficult collect the questionnaire on the agreed dates. This caused the research untold hardship of going to their various districts repeatedly and in some/ most case without success.
As a result of these factors, health and financial constraint and the large occupational members involved in the process. The researcher was only able to gather but fewer questionnaire are from the member distributed.
The frequency and its techniques of operations were not adoptive and again because of time limits, it was not possible for the researcher to investigate into all the factors that are effecting the effective operative of consumer cooperative in Idemili North L.G.A Anambra State being the area studied.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Consumer cooperative society: This is a society which engaged in sale of manufactured/consumer products to the members at a reasonable price. They are also similar to other cooperative but for the fact that they are mainly found in the rural area while the members are mostly farmers. They may be called service centre for the benefit of their members.
Bulking buying: This is buying large quantity of goods at controlled price and selling to members and others at affordable control prices.
Patronage Rebate: This is share they usually have at the end of the year based on the degree of participation, they are also paid dividend on shares.