ABSTRACT

The study examined the determinants of income of rice marketers in Obowo L.G.A of Imo State. The broad objective of the study was to examine the determinants of income of rice marketers in Obowo L.G.A of Imo State. The study examined the socio-economic factors that affected the income of the rice marketers in Obowo L.G.A, examined the cost, return, profit and efficiency of the marketers of rice, examined the profitability ratio, and returns on investment ratio, and identified the problems of the marketers of rice in the study area. To achieve the objectives of this study, three markets namely Onu Imo main market, one alike market and Ekeja ehume market were purposively selected. Well structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 45 respondents who were randomly selected from the three markets. Simple descriptive statistical tools such as mean percentage, frequency tables were used for data analysis. Netreturns, marketing efficiency, profitability ratio, returns on investment ratio and regression model were used to analyze the data. The had a mean age of 44 years which indicates that the marketers were relatively young. Majority of the marketers are married with a percentage of 71.11. They also have 10.58 years of experience in the business. The result of the net return shows that the business was profitable. The significant variables that influenced income of the marketers were age, level of education, years of experience, household size and marketing cost. Problems encountered by rice marketers include; high cost of rice, high cost of transportation, financial difficulties, delay in the delivery of commodities, low patronage due to situation of the market, storage difficulties, and lack of credit facilities. Based on findings, it is recommended that government should provide a cheap means of transportation and loan facilities so as to enhance the supply of the commodities, provision of socio-economic and marketing facilities. The significant variables which influenced income of the marketers should be taken in consideration in policy issues.