A study of participation of farmers cooperative members in the activities provided by the farmers cooperative in the Mukim of Manir, district of Kuala Terengganu
The purpose of thls study was to determine the factors which hindered the partlcipation of farmers. In the activities provided by the Farmers Cooperative (FC) In the Mukim of Manir, district of Kuala Terengganu. It also Intended to examine the relationship between the level of participation with th...
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1978.
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| Summary: | The purpose of thls study was to determine the factors which hindered the partlcipation of farmers. In the activities provided by the Farmers Cooperative (FC) In the Mukim of Manir, district of Kuala Terengganu. It also Intended to examine the relationship between the level of participation with the following factors: farmers' demographic characteristics (age, education level, Income level and farm size), farmers' attitude toward the FC contact between FC officers and the members, and farmer perception of the FC officers' competency.Eighty respondents from three kampungs in the Mukim of Manir (Kampunq Tualang, Telok Menara and Beladau Kolam) were ramdomly selected and the data were collected by lnterviewing the respondents using a pretested interview schedule. In the analysis of data in the relation to the hypothesis, t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and product-moment colrelation were employed.The introduction of the FC into the rural community was seen within the broad context of planned change, that is systematic change introduced from an external source. This new institutional set-up was supposed to help raise the productivity and income of the farmers especially the smallholder sector who live below the poverty line. The FC also aimed to change the attitude of the farmers towards being more receptive to new ideas.The study revealed that the level of participation in the activities provided by the Farmers Cooperative was generally low. It was found that structural problems such as small farm size (the average FC member owned 7.4 acres of land), problem of land tenure and low income (average income of less that $200 a month) had greater bearing upon the level of participation than the attitude of the farmers towards the specific change organisation. In general, the farmers had favourable attitude towards the organisation and the FC, officers and their in ability to participate in the projects arose out of economic Inability (e.g, Inability to pay high monthly loan repayment) rather than negative attitudes towards change.Another lmportant factor in influencing participation was tile expressed lack of opportunity to to participant in the activlties provided to the members. The FC officers were perceived only to work with a certain group of lndividuals while giving little attention to the others. This accounted for the fact that the majority of the respondents had limited knowledge activitles carried out by the FC.The study also showed that demographic factors such as income, education level, and land size had no relationship with the level of participation. Thls suprising lack of correlation may be attributed to the small differences between the various education levels, income levels and farm size of the respondents. If the differences were larger the result could have been different and more meaningful.Based on the findings of the study, the study recommended that the FC should carry out activities which are within the capability of the small farmers. The FC should emphasize more on dealing with problems at the structural level (1and tenure, small farm size, etc.) rather than concentrating on increasing output. Tile extension workers should be encouraged to work directly with the farmers at all levels irregardless of status and positionsIn the society. FInally, the FC should involve the farmers in the planning and Implementation of lts projects so as to meet the needs and desires of the people especially the small farmers. This will promote better and more active participation. |
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| Physical Description: | xiii, 138 leaves: ill.; 30 cm. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-101) |