ABSTRACT

This study focused on spatial and inter-temporal analysis of the marketing of vegetables in Abia state, Nigeria. The relationship between the spatial location of farms, and the seasonal characteristics of vegetables on its market has been a contentious issue on agricultural marketing. A sample of 50 vegetable marketers in eight different markets in Abia State were selected for the study. A structured questionnaire was developed and administered to the respondents, to generate information on the marketing activities. Tools of central tendency and dispersion, as well as inferential statistics were used to analyze data collected. The results obtained showed that mean age of the respondents was about 40years, 74% of them were females, 62% of whom were married; while about 54% had at least secondary education and 11 years marketing experience. The results also showed that net revenue per kilogram of vegetable per week was N16 1.38 during harvest periods, and N268.09 at off-peak season. Spatial price integration exists between most of the markets surveyed. Also temporal pricing efficiency was obtained between peak season and off-season periods, with a correlation coefficient of 0.416 (u = 0.00 1). Also all the variables included in the regression model except sex of the respondents were significantly related at 1 % level to net revenue of the marketers. Also all the identified problems received affirmative responses from the respondents as militating against their businesses. It was recommended that vegetable marketers form marketing cooperatives to have opportunity to access credit from governments and financial institutions; storage and warehousing services be provided as a form business in the vegetable value chain, and the processing industries be established to curb the negative effect of imports of canned vegetables on the output and marketing. Furthermore, it is recommended that varieties of tomato and pepper which can adapt to climates in the state and other eastern part of the country be developed, and produced.