Abstract:

The study examined the factors hindering Agricultural Cooperative Societies from contributing adequately to poverty and hunger eradication among the rural community dwellers in Ido-Osi Local Government Area in Ekiti State. It also determined how the government and other agencies can assist Agricultural Cooperative Societies to sustain inclusive agricultural development and eradicate poverty and hunger among Ido-Osi Local Government Area rural households. The project employed primary data sources; the primary sources were one hundred and twenty self-administered questionnaires, of which ninety were retrieved and analysed using the linear regression model. The result indicated factors hindering agricultural cooperative societies have a negative and significant contribution to poverty and hunger eradication among the rural community dwellers in Ido-Osi Local Government Area, and ways in which agricultural cooperative societies can be assisted by government and other agencies have a positive and significant effect to sustaining inclusive agricultural development and eradication of poverty and hunger among rural households in Ido-Osi Local Government Area, Ekiti State. The study recommends that awareness should be made and emphasising patronising agricultural cooperative societies, which can serve as one way to reduce poverty in the state. Also, microfinance banks and other financial institutions supporting agricultural cooperative societies should increase the volume base of funds allotted to cooperatives with minimal and bearable interest rates.