Market participation behaviour among urban okra producers in Ojo Local Government Area, Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined market participation behaviour among urban okra producers in Ojo Local Government Area, Lagos State, Nigeria. A two-stage sampling procedure was adopted in selecting 120 vegetable farmers during the dry season extending from November to March 2018/2019. Data on socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, farm-specific factors, and marketing and production output activities were collected using a well-structured questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics (such as mean, standard deviation and percentage) and a Tobit regression model. Most of the urban farmers were young and educated and in their economic active age. The mean market share of okra marketed by the respondents was 7,662.17kg (representing 89.8% of okra produced). Sex, primary occupation, per capita land size, cost of seed, price of okra per unit, distance to nearest market and cost of labour significantly determined market participation (p<0.05). The study recommends policies that facilitate access to production resources like land, seed or planting material and farm labour at lower costs. The land policy that makes access to marginal land in an urban area available for agriculture should be as a form of empowerment to the vulnerable in society. Also, upgrading farm-to-market roads to reduce transportation costs to distant urban markets which offer better prices and encourage farmers to produce more marketable produce.