| dc.description.abstract | The overall goal of Co-operatives is to increase members‟ bargaining power in order to earn higher prices for their produce and ultimately, improve their incomes and livelihoods. However, forming Co-operatives will not automatically solve problems faced by individual members. This is because Co-operatives are faced with the same economic forces, legal restrictions and international relations that other enterprises face. Co-operative members‟ expectations about the quality of Coffee marketing agency services offered by Co-operatives in regard to how much they are paid for Coffee sold, how long it takes to be paid and the amount charged as commission for the service offered have a major influence on the level of satisfaction or dissatisfaction felt. The main purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of Coffee marketing agency services on members‟ satisfaction, a case of Coffee Co- operatives in Songhor division Nandi County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were; to investigate the influence of timely Coffee payments and the level of members‟ satisfaction, to investigate the influence of amount paid and the level of members‟ satisfaction, to investigate how the amount of commission charged for service rendered influence on members‟ satisfaction and to investigate the influence of Coffee advance payments and how it affects members‟ satisfaction. The study employed a case study research design. A total population of 1122 persons were targeted. Stratified simple random and simple random sampling designs were used to select the sample size. Questionnaires, interview schedule and document analysis were used as the main data collection instruments. Data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 19. Results of the study showed that 77.3% of farmers were satisfied of being coffee farmers while 68.3% said that through this farming it offered opportunities for agricultural development. The results further showed that there was no significant influence (p>0.01) on timely coffee payments and coffee prices but the study established that there exist significant influence on commissions charged on coffee and advance coffee payments. Farmers were more satisfied with the commission charged on coffee agency services and the results further revealed that members were satisfied on advance payments made to them by their cooperative societies. The study recommends that coffee cooperative societies in the area need to look for good markets for their coffee, members should improve their coffee quality and coffee payments need to be made within a short period of time | en |
