Abstract:

Over the decades, the perception of cooperatives has revolved from that of considering them as food security agents and determinants to that of social and economic agents to cooperators, community, and national development. The study, therefore, critically reviewed the related literature on agriculture cooperatives as poverty alleviating agents. An integrated strategy in the research review approach was used to support the study. The findings revealed recent developments in cooperatives that are putting agriculture cooperatives on the map as agents of poverty eradication and social and economic development in third-world countries. Currently, there is a societal expectation that cooperatives have not only a responsibility to better the lives of the members but also the entire community and nation as a whole. The study concluded that achieving future sustainable social and economic development requires full recognition of all the key economic players in the business ecosystem. The study, therefore, recommends full support of the agriculture cooperatives if they are to play a positive and integral role in mitigating the poverty levels in third-world countries.

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