ABSTRACT

The study was designed to focused on the 'Economic Analysis of fresh coconut marketing in Mkpal Enin Local government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria". The specific objective included to: Examine the socio-economic characteristics of fresh coconut marketers, to ascertain the socio-economic variables that affect the level of profit of respondents, to determine if coconut marketing in the study area is profitable and to identify the constraints to the marketing of fresh coconut in the study area. Structured questionnaire were administered to forty (40) fresh coconut marketers using interviews schedules and. observation. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentage, net returns analyses were used and OLS multiple regression models were used in data analysis. The findings of the studs' showed a greater number of females respondents who were mainly married, and had a household size of 6- 1 0 people, were involved in the marketing of Coconut in the study area. Also about 72.5% attained secondary education, While average income from the trade per respondent was 25,658.76. The result further showed that coconut marketers in [lie study area were faced with certain constraints, such as inadequate capital, seasonal variation of price, inadequate storage facilities, poor access roads, and low selling price of coconut pods. Government should provide storage facilities for the fresh coconut marketing to enable them have conducive storage to increase the shelf life of Coconut in the study area. Government should improve their business by giving them loans to improve on their capital and increase their scale of operation. Government should give them loan to enable the business to progress. Government should invest in coconut business. Government should help the traders in providing capital education/sensitization on how to promote the business up to international level.