ABSTRACT

The research work focused on the analysis of the Economics of Irvingia spp (Ogbono) marketing in Njaba Local government area of Imo State. The sampling frame covered both the retailers and wholesalers. A sample size of 80 respondents, made up of 40 retailers and 40 wholesalers were used. Multi stage sampling technique was used in data collection. Njaba local government is made up of ii towns out of which 5 towns were randomly selected from the eleven (11) towns. in the second stage, 2 villages were randomly selected from each of the 5 towns making 10 villages in all. From each of the sampled villages, 4 wholesalers and 4 retailers were randomly selected from a list of market union on the product. A total of 80 respondents made up of 40 wholesalers and 40 retailers were used. Well structured questionnaire was used to collect the primary data. Data obtained were analyzed with simple descriptive statistics such as means, frequencies and percentages. Marketing margin and marketing efficiencies, net returns analysis as well as Ordinary Least Square (OLS), multiple regressions model was estimated. Result showed that the marketing of Irvingia spp was dominated by married females, well educated, and who are within active labour force, active force age, energetic were involved in the marketing of Irvingia spp. The net returns analysis showed positive net returns for both wholesalers and retailers with higher profit for the wholesalers. The marketing efficiencies for both the retailers and wholesalers were less than 100%, but the retailers were more efficient at 20.89% as against 7.69% for the wholesalers. The regression result for the retailers showed that level of education, marketing experience, and transportation cost were significant at 5%, 59% and 1 % respectively and are positively related to net returns on the marketing of Irvingia spp. Cost of purchase had negative effect and was significant at the 5% level of significance. For the wholesalers gender, marital status and household size were all significant at 5% level, and have positive relationship with net returns on marketing of Irvingia spp. Age and marketing experience were negatively related and significant at the 5% and 1% levels respectively. The main problems encountered in the business were inadequate transportation facility, bad road, high transport cost, inadequate storage facilities, seasonal fluctuation in supply and financial difficulties. Based on the findings of this work, it was recommended that the socio-economic variables and marketing infrastructure be improved upon to increase the net returns. The marketers should be exposed to seminars, symposium, and further formal education for them to conform to modern marketing conditions. They should form co-operatives for mutual help to enable them tackle the financial challenges and storage problems.