Economics Of Non-Timber Forest Products Marketing In Selected Markets Of Owerri Agricultural Zone Of Imo State, Nigeria: A Case Study Of Oil Bean Seeds

Abstract

The study assessed the economics of oil bean seeds marketing in the selected market of Owerri Agricultural Zone of Imo State, Nigeria. One hundred and ten oil bean seeds marketers were randomly selected from eleven major markets of the study area. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaire. Results show that oil bean seeds market is relatively dominated by female marketers (67%). The percentage gross marketing margins for wholesale and retail of oil bean seeds marketing were 32.30% and 41% respectively, while their percentage net margins were 24.93% and 22.64% respectively. The wholesalers earned positive net returns of N2,700.00 per 100kg of oil bean seeds from marketing operations while the retails earned positive net returns of N540.00 per 20kg oil bean seeds marketing operation. These earnings are very commensurate with wholesalers and retailers' marketing services. The determined economic efficiencies for wholesaling and retailing of oil bean seeds were 1.23 and 1.20 respectively. Major constraints to wholesaling and retailing of oil bean seeds include seasonal availability of oil bean seeds and high cost of oil bean seeds during the off-season.
Key words: Non-timber products, oil bean seeds marketing, Owerri – Nigeria.


Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences Vol. 3 (2) 2005 pp. 127-136