ABSTRACT

The study was designed to examine the economics of yam marketing in Umuahia zone of Abia state, Nigeria. It specifically analyzed the socio-economic characteristics of the marketers, the channel of distribution of yam in the study area, the structure of the market with respect to market concentration, the performance of the market with respect to gross marketing margin and marketing efficiency. Also, factors that influenced marketing efficiency of wholesalers and retailers and problems encountered by marketers were analyzed. A multistage random sampling technique was used in the selection of five markets, 50 wholesalers and 50 retailers, respectively, making a total of 100 respondents. Structured interview schedules were used in cross sectional data collection from traders. Data analyses were by the use of such statistical and econometric tools like frequencies, percentages, tables, averages, z-test statistic, multiple regression technique, correlation analysis and Gini coefficient. The results of the study showed that most (80.0% wholesalers and 76.0% retailers) of the yam traders in Umuahia agricultural zone were males. The mean ages were 42.50 and 44.40 for wholesalers and retailers respectively. Most of the wholesalers 400% were 31-40 years old. On the retailer's side, most 50.0%% were 41 - 50 years old. Yam wholesaling earns more income in yam business than yam retailing. Yam supply to Umuahia market is unrestrictive and can assume any channel possible among producers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers. There is market imperfection and could be attributed to financial limitations of the retailers that hinders expansion of their business. There is greater degree of concentration in the retail market than the wholesale market. Yam wholesalers had more marketing margins than yam retailers. The wholesale and retail markets were inefficient, though the wholesalers had lower marketing efficiency than the retailers, yam wholesale marketers had more marketing margin than yam retail marketers. Yam wholesale marketers had less marketing efficiency than yam retail marketers. Age of respondents, level of education, marital status, marketing experience, selling price and transportation cost influenced the marketing efficiency of yam wholesalers in Umuahia zone of Abia state while Age of respondents, marital status, number of dependents, marketing experience, selling price and mode of operation influenced the marketing efficiency of yam retailers in Umuahia zone of Abia state. This study concluded that retail marketing of yam is more efficient than wholesale marketing of yam. The study recommend that there is need to make policies that will enhance the degree of market efficiency of yam salers as this will reduce the price of the product at the market for yam consumers.