WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES AND ITS EFFECT ON INCOME AND EMPOWERMENT IN NIGERIA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE

This review article synthesizes empirical evidence on the relationship between women’s participation in agricultural cooperatives and outcomes relating to income and socio-economic empowerment in Nigeria. A total of 15 studies published between 2010 and 2025 were reviewed using PRISMA 2020 guidelines to examine how cooperative membership improves access to credit, inputs, extension services, markets, and decision-making power. Sourced from databases including Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and African Journals Online (AJOL), the literature reveals that cooperative membership significantly enhances women’s economic performance, decision-making autonomy, and social capital compared to non-members. However, structural constraints such as patriarchal land tenure systems, unpaid care burdens, and limited executive representation persist. The review concludes that agricultural cooperatives remain vital instruments for gender equity and rural development in Nigeria, provided they are supported by structural legal and institutional reforms.