Examination of Problems Facing Small Scale Business in Rural Areas of Edo State

Examination of Problems Facing Small Scale Business in Rural Areas of Edo State

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Nigeria is one of the countries in West Africa with a vast population of both human and natural resources for its full development. One of the ways developing countries like Nigeria starts high-level development is through the establishment of different types of business organisations that will help the country to channel its resources into productive areas. This means that business organisations can play a major role in the process of transforming an underdeveloped economy like Nigeria into a developed one.

Business organisations form the most important aspect of the economy of every developed nation. There are different kinds of organisations such as governmental, religious, charity, trade unions and associations but none of the above mentions appears to be as important to the economy as the business organisations, this is because they are closely and generally identified as economic institutions. In most parts of the world, the high value of small scale enterprises in the process of socio-economic development has been well documented, particularly in developing countries. It is now realised that large scale enterprises cannot be alone be expected to play a dynamic role, that they are supposed to play in the rapid growth and development of the economy. (Nwoye, 1994).

Business organisations can therefore be described as an organised effort or activity by a person or a group of persons employing the resources of the environment to produce and distribute goods and services to maximise profit. (Barach, 1977). The major incentive for setting up a business enterprise is the profit motive, many entrepreneurs do not easily recognise that they are established in other to provide some services to society. In such cases, providing services is the same as creating a customer to achieve whatever objective he may have. A businessman or woman must be familiar with events in his or her environment.

Commencing a new business like a small scale business in Nigeria and making it grow involves both the science of creation and the art of management. It also entails a lot of risks but chances of making it succeed will be better if one understands the problems that will be met and work out as many of them as possible before the business takes off and such Problems includes Failure to plan, skilled manpower, infrastructure, finance, raw materials.

Another important consideration for any businessman and woman is the decision to know about the form of business organisation to adopt. There are three forms of business ownership, we have single proprietorship, partnership and corporation. Single proprietorship is an enterprise owned by an individual, the owner is the manager, it is commonly found in the areas of retailing firms, professional practice, repair shops e.t.c. The formation of a small business under a single proprietorship does not need any legal formalities, since the business and its ownership are often ones and the same. (Nwoye, 1994). A partnership is a form of business organisation owned by two or more persons by voluntary arrangement. As is a sole proprietorship, the partnership is not a separate entity from the owners. The legal requirements information of a partnership are also minor in registration of business and securing of a license or permit. (Nwoye, 1994).

A small scale business is any business organisation whose annual turnover does not exceed five hundred thousand Naira (500,000). Its capital includes the cost of machinery and equipment which does not exceed six hundred thousand naira and employees not more than fifty workers

The corporation is the most complex type of business organisation both information and operation. A business corporation has been described as a legal entity having separate life from its owner unlike the two other forms of business organisation, The ownership is represented by shares of stock in the company. Anyone who owns shares in a corporation becomes part-owner of the business. To determine which of these three categories of organisations that best describe a particular business organisation, several factors are considered such as availability of capital required, ability and experience of the owner, the difficulty of organisation, degree of control, types of business engaged, the size of the market and even the location.

The increasing rate of failure of many small scale business organisations in the rural areas of Edo State suggests that this kind of business is facing some problems, this situation has prompted this study to want to examine both the remote and immediate problems if any that faces this business organisation

Statement of the Problem

Small scale businesses in the rural areas of Edo State have problems that are widely observed by the generality of the people. Small scale business appears to be either disappearing or incapable of growing and expanding. It appears that many undergraduates are roaming the street without jobs, this existing and disturbing observation has prompted the researchers to carry out this study to assess the problem confronting small scale business from going into extinction, if this trend is not curtained now, sooner or later, the unemployment rate would be uncontrollable in Edo state due to the unenticing nature of small scale enterprises in The rural areas. Most small scale enterprises in rural areas are unattractive to graduates due to lack of infrastructural development and other factors.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of the study is to identify the problem facing small scale business organizations in Edo State.  Especially, the study sought to ascertain:

1. The way Financial problems affect small scale business in Edo state.
2. The way lack of infrastructures affects small scale businesses in Edo state.
3. The way failure to plan affect small scale business in Edo state.
4. The way lack of skilled power affects small scale businesses in Edo state.
5. The way raw material problems affect small scale business in Edo state.

Research questions

The questions which this study attempt to answer is:

1. How do Financial problems affect small scale businesses in rural areas of Edo state?
2. How does lack of plan affect small scale businesses in Edo state?
3. How does the raw materials problem affect small scale businesses in Edo state?
4. How does the infrastructure problem affect small scale businesses in Edo state?
5. How does lack of skilled manpower affect small scale businesses in Edo state?

Significance of the Study

This project is written to present an examination in problems facing small scale business organisations in the rural areas of Edo State, which of course will enlighten the mind of scholars and other interested persons that are inquisitive in knowing the problems confronting the small scale business organisation.

This study is expected to be of great benefit to all prospective and aspiring individuals who want to operate business enterprises in rural areas of Edo State. So also it is intended to benefit other researchers, policy planners and government both at state and federal levels.

Scope of the Study

This study of the trends in a business organisation is specifically related to small scale businesses and in particular problems facing small scale problems in rural areas. But this is not to say that large scale business organisation is not facing some problems. But due to time and financial constraints, only a sample of the small scale business organisations in the rural areas of Edo State will be included in the study.