Marketing of Selected Salad Vegetables in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria
[1]
Ozigbo M. C., Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Abia State University, Umuahia Location, Abia State, Nigeria.
[2]
Udah S. C., Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Abia State University, Umuahia Location, Abia State, Nigeria ; Division of Resource Management, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, U. S. A..
The study investigated the marketing of selected salad vegetables (lettuce and cabbage) in Umuahia main market, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State. The specific objectives are to identify the socio-economic characteristics of the salad vegetables marketers in Umuahia main market, examine the marketing channels, margins and market share of salad vegetables in Umuahia main market. This employed simple random selection in choosing of respondents on the identified markets. 12 wholesalers and 28 retailers of the lettuce and cabbage marketers were randomly selected and they are tested using a well structured questionnaire, and it was used to capture data from the 40 respondents the area. The results showed that the marketing margins were N5000.00, N1200.00, and N800.00 for the producers, wholesalers and retailers of lettuce responsively while N4900.00, N18000.00, and N800.00 were margins for producers, wholesalers and retailers of cabbage respectively. The percentage market share was, 71.43%, 17.14%, and 11.43%. for producers, wholesalers and retailers of cabbage respectively. The marketing channel started from producers, to the wholesalers to the retailers then to the final consumers. Problems encountered by salad vegetables [lettuce and cabbage] marketers include inadequate capital, high cost of transportation, it is recommended that good maintenance agency should be involved to enhance smooth and easy transportation and reduce the cost of transportation, thereby bringing down marketing cost. Government should also encourage and assist institutions that provide loans and credit facilities to agricultural marketers.
Marketing Margins, Transport Cost, Lettuce, Producer, Marketing Cost
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