Adaptive Measures for the Factors Affecting Marketing of Coffee (Coffea robusta Rio Nunes) in Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Kogi State is known as the major producer of Coffea robusta in Nigeria. Income generated from marketing of coffee in the State contributed to sustenance of livelihoods and development of communities. Currently, marketing of coffee is in a regretful state and stakeholders are abandoning the trade. The study therefore assessed the factors affecting marketing of coffee in the State. Primary data was collected through interviews and focus group discussion. Four major stakeholders were observed along the marketing chain of coffee in the study area; they included the farmers, local buyers popularly known as produce buyers, secondary processors, and exporters. The major challenges facing marketing of coffee in the study area was poor pricing and marketing systems; this is as a result of inappropriate processing method, lack of quality control and relevant information on improved coffee technologies. Farmers lamented that the abolition of Commodity Marketing Board has a great negative impacts on marketing of coffee in Nigeria. Intervention measures may include the introduction of local or national coffee quality control and certification systems; formation of the coffee producers' and marketers' cooperative society and the establishment of an effective local and export commodity marketing boards to protect farmers against price instability.

Key words: Marketing chain, Commodity Marketing Board, quality control, poor pricing