Journal of Research in Agriculture, Volume 8, Number 2, 2011

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1 THE PROBLEMS AND PROSPECT OF MARKETING OF PLANTAIN IN RURAL AND URBAN MARKETS OF OVIA NORTH EAST AND OVIA SOUTH WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE, NIGERIA 1 Olumese M. I. and 2 Onyema U. 3 Pullen Department of Agricultural Extension and Farm Management Edo State College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi, Edo State, Nigeria ABSTRACT A study was undertaken to examine the problems and prospect of marketing of plantain in rural and urban markets of Ovia North East and Ovia South West local government areas of Edo state, Nigeria. The objective was to determine the major problems militating against the marketing of plantain in the rural and urban markets in the study area. Seventy () respondents comprising of sellers of plantain were selected by purposive sampling technique. Data was collected by use of structured questionnaire were administered to these respondents in both rural and urban markets surveyed. Data obtained from this study were analyzed by descriptive statistics such as frequency tables and percentage estimation. ADP market price survey on plantain was equally consulted on close interactions with some enumerators during the course of this survey by the researchers. The result of this study showed that among the major problems affecting marketing of plantain in the study area are bad road network, inadequate electricity supply and inadequate storage facilities. Secondly, the survey revealed that % of the respondents have farm size of above 0.4ha, 11.4% have farm size of 0.3ha, and 28.6% have farm size of ha while 2.7% of the respondents have farm size of less than 0.1ha. This implies that majority of the respondents interviewed were still operating below an average farm size of ha. It was however, recommended that to overcome these problems; government should give construction and maintenance of roads network leading from Benin urban to Okada and Iguobazuwa headquarters of the two (2) local government Areas studied in Edo state a priority in their budgets. Government should provide efficient processing and storage facilities to marketers of plantain to avoid wastage of product through post- harvest losses in Ovia North East and Ovia South West local government area being the major areas of production of plantain in Edo state. Keywords: Problems, Prospect, Marketing, Plantain, Rural Urban, Markets, Edo State. INTRODUCTION Plantain is known botanically as Musa paradisica and it belong to the family musaceae. It is a tree crop which is mainly propagated by sucker and rhizomes. Plantain has two varieties namely the False horn plantain and the Fresh horn plantain. The False horn plantain is the type that is mainly cultivated in North East and Ovia South West because of its ability to tolerate drier and marginal soils. Plantain is planted on a spacing of 2.m x 2.m to enable proper inter cropping with other arable crops such as melon Vegetables and Cassava for the first cropping season. Plantain is produced during the period usually between May and August. Plantain usually takes 8-12 months to flower and 3-4 months from flowering stage - harvesting. Plantain serves as a source of food to man and raw materials for Livestock feeds. Doctors recommend the eating of plantain for people suffering from high blood pressure. Some of the major markets where plantain is marketed in a large scale in Ovia South West are Iguobazuwa market, Udo market Ogbesse market and Okomu market. Okada market is one of the markets where plantain is marketed in large scale in Ovia, North East Local Government Area. The marketing channels for plantain are producer wholesaler-retailer consumer. It is apparent that no persons or individual household can be self-sufficient in terms of needs so exchange of agricultural products became prominent through trade by barter. This is the beginning of agricultural marketing (Orosanye. 1991). Corresponding Author: Olumese M. I., olumesedu@gmail.com 1

2 The Problems and Prospect of Marketing of Plantain in Rural and Urban Markets of Ovia North East and Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria Agricultural marketing can be defined as the sum total of all business activities involved in the involvement of commodities (plantain inclusive) from production point to consumption stage (Olumese et al, 2006). It is a fact that the marketing of agricultural produce is a very crucial stage in agricultural business. This is more, when it is realized that the marketing of agricultural product incidentally, happen to be concerned with economic returns that had prompted the agricultural activities in the first place (Orosanye, 1991). In Nigeria, it had been observed that in spite of the excellent scientific research result from improved production technologies, agricultural sector contribute little to the National income. This is because of the problems associated with marketing of agricultural products which is the central focus of this study. The specific objectives of this study include: 1. To access the socio- economic characteristics of plantain sellers and buyers in the study area. 2. To examine the marketing channels in the study area. 3. To identify the forms in which plantain are marketed and the type of storage facilities used. 4. To determine the prices of plantain products in both urban and rural markets surveyed.. To identify the major constraints associated with plantain marketing in the study area. METHODOLOGY THE STUDY AREA The study was carried out in some selected urban and rural markets in Ovia North East and Ovia South West local government area of Edo state which include: Iguobazuwa market, Ogbesse market, Okomu market and Okada market respectively. Edo state is located in the south- south region of Nigeria. It is founded in the west by Ondo State, in the south by Delta state and in the North by Kogi State. The major crops grown in Ovia North East and Ovia South West include staple foods such as Yam, Cassava, Melon, Pepper, Okro and Ash Crops Such as Oil Palm, Plantain, Banana, Rubber and Timber. Both male and female marketers of plantain constitute the population used for this study. Simple random sampling technique was utilized in selecting respondents for this study. A total of 120 copies of questionnaire were administered to respondents in these proportions: Okada market-24 copies of questionnaire, Ogbesse market-24 copies of questionnaire, Udo Market -24 copies of questionnaire, Iguobazuwa market - 24 copies of questionnaire, Okomu market - 24 copies of questionnaire, were distributed making it a total of 120 questionnaire out of which questionnaire were retrieved for actual data analysis. Simple descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages were used for data analysis. No inferential statistics was employed. LIMITATION OF THE STUDY Some of the constraints encountered by the researchers in the course of this survey include: unwillingness of the marketers to 'sacrifice some time while trading in the market to complete the questionnaire on the spot. Also most of the marketers were illiterates and conservative. Language barrier was another serious limitation to the study. The researchers had to employ the services of interpreters to overcome the problem of language barrier during survey period in the field. RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS RESULTS OF FINDINGS Tables I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX and X show the results obtained from this study on the problems and prospects of marketing plantain in Ovia South West and Ovia North East Local Government Areas of Edo State, Nigeria. 2

3 Table I: Socio-Economic Characteristics of Respondents S/N Socio-economic characteristics of Respondents 1. Sex Male Female 2. Age (years) < > 3. Marital status Single Married Widowed Divorced Separated 4. Educational No formal education Status Primary education Secondary education Tertiary education. Farm size (ha) No response < > Farming experience (years) 3 Frequency Percentage TOTAL Less than and above Table II: Distribution of Plantain Sellers according to Marketing Channels in Survey Area Marketing Channels Frequency Percentage Farm gate Open Market Table III: Sources of Buyers for Plantain marketing in the study Area Source of Buyers Frequency Percentage Within the area Outside the Area 78.6 Table IV: Distribution of Respondents according to Plantain Marketing Status Plantain Marketing status Frequency Percentage Market Plantain alone 19 2 Market other products

4 The Problems and Prospect of Marketing of Plantain in Rural and Urban Markets of Ovia North East and Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria Table V: Forms Plantain is Marketed in Ovia South West L.G.A of Edo State Forms of Marketing Frequency Percentage Processed forms Unprocessed forms Table VI: Types of Storage used for Plantain marketing in the study Area Types of Storage Used Frequency Percentage Tank 12 1 Drums No Response Table VII: Forms in which Plantain is sold (by respondents interviewed) Forms in which Plantain is sold Frequency Percentage In bulk Retail To middlemen 0 0 Table VIII: Major Prices of Plantain in Urban and Rural Markets Surveyed in Ovia North east and Ovia South West L.G.A of Edo State Urban Markets price of Plantain (N/tone) Rural Markets price of Plantain (N/tone) Table IX: Ranking of major Problems affecting marketing of Plantain in the study area Marketing constraints Frequency Ranking Transportation problems/problem of bad 30 1* roads Seasonal influence 1 2* Middlemen in the channel 10 3* Price fluctuations 4* *Ranking of problems from highest to lowest 4

5 Table X: Distribution of respondents on the basis of the Markets Sampled for the study in Ovia North East and Ovia South West L.G.A of Edo State Local Government Area Number of Respondents Markets Surveyed Ovia South West 39 males Iguobazuwa and Udo Markets 1 females 4 Respondents Ovia North East 13 males Okada and Ogbesse 2 respondents Grand respondents DISCUSSION OF RESULTS Table I above presents the socioeconomic characteristic of plantain marketers interviewed for the study. It shows that 61.4% representing 43% of the respondents were male while 38.6% of the respondents were females. This implies that majority of the Plantain marketers are males. Table I also revealed that 48.6 % of respondents representing 34 of the respondent s age fell within the age range of above 60 years. 30% of respondents' age lies between %. Had their age between 2-40 years while about % representing of the respondents had their age below 2 years. This implies that the majority of the respondents were middle aged. In terms of educational level, the study result on table 1 shows that 3.7% (2) had no formal education, 38.6% (27) had primary education and 18.6% (13) had secondary education, while the remaining % () had tertiary education. Table 2 presents data on marketing channels of plantain used by respondents interviewed. It shows that 24 of the respondents representing 34.3% sold their plantain at farm gate, while 46 of the respondents representing 6. % sold their plantain through open market. Table III presents data on source of buyers for plantain marketing. It shows that 21.4% of respondents sold their plantain products within the area while 8.6% of the respondents sold their plantain outside the study area. It implies that sometimes plantain is transported by marketers to the North from Ovia North East and Ovia South West local government area of Edo state to take advantage of high prices of selling plantain in urban markets compared to rural markets. Table IV and table V presents data on marketing status of plantain as well as the forms in which plantain were marketed. Table shows that while 13 (18.6%) configured that plantain were marketed in processed form, 7 (81.4%) confirmed that plantain was being marketed in unprocessed form in Ovia North East and Ovia South West local government area of Edo state. Examples of plantain products after it has been processed include plantain chips, roasted plantain, as livestock feeds or boiled and eaten by humans. Medical doctors have recommended that patients suffering from high blood pressure and hypertension should eat more of plantain diets at regular intervals. Table VI presents the types of storage used by respondents. It shows that 12 of the respondents (1%) stored their plantains in tanks while 32 (4.7%) of the respondents stored theirs in drums before marketing them to reduce spoilage and post-harvest losses. Table VII presents data on the forms plantains were sold by the respondents interviewed. It shows that 3 (7.7%) of the respondents agreed that most of the marketers sold plantain in bulk while 17 (24.31) of the respondents agreed that plantain were sold to retailers before. been sold to the final consumers. Table VIII presents data on comparative prices of plantain at urban and rural markets surveyed in Ovia North e -and Ovia South West local Government areas. It implies that the reasons why the urban markets prices of plantain were higher than the rural prices was due to overhead cost and other costs incurred in the course transporting the plantain from one location to another. Table IX presents data on the major problem encountered by plantain marketers in the area under study. These include the following which were ranked from 1 (highest problem) to 4 (lowest problem). Rank 1: Transportation problem due to bad road network. Rank 2: Due to seasonal influence on plantain production. Rank 3: Due to problem of middlemen in the market channel. Rank 4: Due to frequent price fluctuation.

6 The Problems and Prospect of Marketing of Plantain in Rural and Urban Markets of Ovia North East and Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria CONCLUSION This study revealed that there are a lot of prospects in plantain marketing because it is an income generating activity for the sellers. The demand for plantain is due to the fact that it can serve as a delicacy or diet humans as it can be eaten boiled or roasted. Plantain can also be processed into plantain chips or as livestock feeds. However, some problems affecting the marketing of plantain were identified in this study which includes problem of bad roads/transportation, problem of middlemen in the marketing channel as well as problem of price fluctuation for plantain in the study area. RECOMMENDATIONS Based on the findings above, the following are the recommendations advanced to policy makers. 1. The government should maintain the access roads leading from Ovia North East and Ovia South West to other parts of Edo State for easy evacuations of plantain/products from the source production (farm) to the market locations for accessibility : to final consumers. 2. Marketing cooperatives on plantain should be formed by marketers in Ovia Local government areas to boost marketing of plantain thereby eliminating the influence of middlemen in the marketing channel. 3. Government should provide plantain storage facilities at subsidized rates through the Edo ADP Extension agents to plantain marketers. This will in turn help to reduce post-harvest losses or spoilage of plantain in Edo state. 4. Government should guarantee minimum prices for agricultural products (plantain inclusive) as well as ready markets similar to the functions of the defunct commodity boards.. Social amenities like electricity, portable drinking water, good roads, schools and health care centers should be built by government to develop the rural areas. This will in turn reduce rural- urban migration by youths who can engage themselves in plantain marketing as a source of employment opportunities. REFERENCES Abebe, A.O. (1994): Basic Economics for Community and Rural Development, ppi-17. Adruka et al. (1997): Modern Day Marketing. Ethiope Publishing Company pp 17. Arokoyo (1983): Problems of Agriculture in West Africa, pp 182. Aina L.O. (1999): Information in Agricultural Information in Africa. Ibadan Third World Information Services pp I-II. Banmeke, T.O.A. and Olowu, T.A. (200): Accessibility of Women Farmers to Agricultural Information in South Western Nigeria, South African Journal, VoI.34(2) pp 238. Clawsen (1983): Problems of Agriculture in developing Countries, Macmillian Publishers, pp 128. Diamond, J. and Pintel, G. (1980): Principles of Marketing. 2nd Edition, pp 122. Kohls, R.L (1987): Marketing of Agricultural Products, 3rd Edition, Macmillian, London, pp20,. Julius, O.O. (1997): Marketing in Nigeria, Experience in a Developing Economy, pp132. 'Komolafe (1989): Agriculture for Higher Secondary School. Oxford University Press, pp 126. Livingstone (1991): Marketing Management and Practice. Heineman Education Books Limited, pp Olumese, M.I, (2006) Lecture note on Agricultural Marketing Edo State College of Agriculture Iguoriakhi Pp

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