Assessment of Farmer Organisations and Their Role in Market Access and Income in Plateau State

Farmer organisations, including cooperatives, associations, and producer groups, are frequently proposed as institutional mechanisms for strengthening smallholder market access, enabling collective action, and improving income outcomes in Nigeria's agricultural sector. In Plateau State, in the North Central geopolitical zone, a diverse landscape of farmer organisations serves vegetable, potato, and livestock producers, but the effectiveness of these organisations in delivering measurable income benefits has not been analytically assessed. This study analyses the role of farmer organisations in improving market access and income among smallholder farmers in Plateau State. A sample of 220 farm households stratified by membership status in functional farmer organisations was selected from four local government areas. Propensity score matching was used to compare outcomes between members and comparable non-members. Market access was measured using market participation rates, marketing costs, and price realisation ratios. Income was measured using net farm income per household per season. Results indicate that farmer organisation members participated in formal markets at a rate 43 percent higher than matched non-members and realised prices 18 percent closer to wholesale consumer market prices. Net farm income among members was N72,000 higher per season on average. Organisations providing market information and collective transport services generated the strongest income advantages for members, while organisations focused primarily on savings had no significant income effect. The study recommends that development programmes targeting Plateau State farmers prioritise strengthening the market facilitation functions of existing farmer organisations rather than forming new ones. Keywords: farmer organisations, cooperatives, market access, farm income, Plateau State