NET RETURNS AND STRUCTURE OF GARDEN EGG LEAF MARKETING (Solanum Aubergine) AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN ONITSHA AGRICULTURAL ZONE, ANAMBRA STATE.

*Nkamigbo, D.C., Isibor, C.A.,Obiekwe, N.J. &Udemba, K.U.

ABSTRACT

The study examined the economics of garden egg leaf marketing (solanumaubergine) among smallholder farmers in Onitsha agricultural zone, Anambra State.  Specifically it described the socio-economic characteristics, market conduct, market structure, net marking margin and constraints to garden egg marketing in the study area. Multistage sampling procedure involving purposive and random sampling methods were used to select 4 LGAs from Onitsha agricultural zone, 8 daily markets and 160 respondents (1600 garden egg leaf marketers). Primary data were collected means of structured questionnaire administered to the respondents through enumerators.  Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, mean ranking, net margin and gini-coefficent. Findings on the socioeconomic characteristics showed that there is a high percentage of marketers who sell in the market and also hawk in the streets, events and offices (54.37%) than those who only sell in the market. Findings on market conduct showed that size of the bundle of garden-egg leaf, colour and specie is a determining factor of criteria for purchase for marketers while absence of yellow coloured ones was the least in the study area. Findings on market structure showed that there is high concentration of sales in the hand of few marketers hence existence of imperfect competition. Findings on the net marketing margin showed that for every one naira invested in the enterprise, 1.56k was generated as profit. The findings on constraints revealed that perishability, irregular prices and hazardness associated with hawking were perceived as the most serious constraints to the marketers. Government and relevant authorities should address the menace of hawking mostly for under age and school children and also assisting the small holder farmers in securing affordable storage facility for the leaf were recommended.

Keywords: Profit, Structure,  Marketing, Garden Egg Leaf