MARKETING EFFICIENCY OF PLANTAIN FARMERS IN UHUNMWONDE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, EDO STATE, NIGERIA.

ABSTRACT

An efficient marketing system is vital to efficient agricultural marketing. If marketing services are infrequent or of low supply, then farmers will be at a disadvantage when they attempt to sell their crops. It would therefore be expected that the marketing quality differences will be reflected in the market cost/prices of the produce and therefore farmers income. The study therefore examined the marketing on efficiency of plantain farmers in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State. The described specific objectives to socio-economic characteristics of the plantain farmers, identify the different modes of marketing, determined the marketing margin and efficiency of plantain marketing as well as to identify the constraints facing plantain marketing in the study area. Results showed that most of the respondents in the study area were male (83.6%) and married (54.8%). The result also revealed that most of the farmers were aged between 41-50years with a mean of 42years and an average of 22years. Most of the plantain farmers in the study area practiced sole cropping as their farming system. The result of the cost and return structure for plantain farmers involved in marketing, showed that the total revenue was N31,806,219.35 with a gross margin of N30,177,415.78 and a net income of N29,814,453.15. The marketing efficiency of plantain was a very high value of 1,155.11. This indicates that plantain marketing in the study area was very rewarding and profitable. It was also found that transportation is most expensive resources in plantain production it constituted (51.35%) of the total variable cost of production. Since seasonality of plantain was the major constraints to plantain marketing, it is recommended that farmers, NGO and government should invest more in storage of plantain to ensure the availability of plantain all year round.