ABSTRACT

The study was designed to examine pork marketing in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State. It specifically examined the socio-economic characteristics of pork marketers in Umuahia North Local Government Area, the mean cost and returns of pork marketers; factors influencing the efficiency of pork marketing, and the constraints in pork marketing. Structured questionnaire, were used to collect data from 32 randomly selected pork marketers which include; Apummiri market in Ubakala, Aforlbeji Market in old Umuahia, AhiaUkwu market in Olokoro and Nsirimo market.. Data analyses were carried out with the use of statistical tools like frequency, mean, percentages and multiple regression models. The results indicate that majority of the pork marketers in the study area were Males (71.89%), Majority of whom fall within the age of 30-39 (37.50%). Many of the farmers also had formal education (90.62%). Majority (5 6.25%) of the marketers were married, which indicate more stable household. The result also shows that marketers with household size that ranges between 1-5 persons had the highest percentage (53.13%). The business was profitable as indicated by a monthly net return of 25,326.10.The semi-log functional form gave the best line of fit. R2value was 59.2% and statistically significant at 1% level. Age, household size, level of education, marketing experience and quantity sold were the significant variables that influenced the marketing efficiency of the pork marketers. The major constraints militating against pork marketing in Umuahia North Local Government Area were high cost of transportation, adequate transportation. Based, formation of cooperative society to fend off low pricing and collective tackling other problem facing the business, provision of credit and other marketing infrastructure, especially through government and non-government agency, were recommended.