ABSTRACT

The study examined the Economics of marketing of selected salad vegetables in Owerri L.G.A, which is the capital of Imo State. The broac objective of the study is to evaluate marketing process for selected salad vegeiables. To achieve the objective of this study, two markets namely relief market and main market also known as Eke-ukwu market were purposively sciatic. Well structured questionnaire were used to collect data from 40 respondents wio were randomly selected from the two markets. Simple descriptive statistical tools such as percentages, frequency tables, means, marketing margin nodcl and profit margin analysis were used to analyse. the data. Results revered that the major sources of the coiriniodities to the study area were northern states of Nigeria. The marketing margin of each of the commode' were 33.5%, 22. 1%, 50% and 23.4%, 42%, 9.1%, 14.4% for the wholesalers and retailers :respectively. Also the result from profit margin analysis shows that marketing c2 the commodities is profitable withN•749.84, .N•898.84, Nr2, 732.84, 782.84 an 39.32, N86.32, N36.32, N2 1.32 •for the wholesalers and retailers respecive1y. The result revealed that carrot N2,732.84 is the most profitable for the wholesalers while cabbage 86.32 is the most profitable for the retailers. Problems encountered by salad vegetable marketers include; inadequate capital, sh3rtage of storage facilities, high cost of transportation and lack of credit faciLties. Based on the findings it is recommended that good road network, cheap means of transportation, provision of storage facilities and Loan should be provided by government so as to alleviate various problems faced h: the farmers and marketers.