Economics of Local Cow Milk Products Marketing in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the local cow milk products marketing in Nigeria, using Kwara as a case study. Specifically, the study appraised socio-economic characteristics of local cow milk products marketers, the marketing profile and identified problems limiting marketing activities for local cow milk products. For the study 75 respondents were surveyed across the study area while data gathered were analysed using marketing margin and marketing efficiency analyses. Results show that only women were marketers of local cow milk products. The marketing chain for the commodity is simple and crude. It starts from the raw cow milk processors through retailers to the consumer. Local cow milk products include cheese: fried and raw, ‘nono’ (sour-milk), ‘mai sanu’(local butter) and ‘ori-amo’. However these products were poorly packaged. Estimated average marketing margin was ı90.6 per kg of processed milk while the estimated marketing efficiency is 115.5%. Most respondents sourced their marketing funds solely from their meager personal savings. Problems militating against the local milk products marketing were lack of efficient storage facilities and the seasonal supply/availability of cow milk. Considering the study findings, there is the need for stake-holders in the milk market to work out necessary improvements in the quality of local cow milk products. Researches and relevant efforts aimed at increasing cow milk yields in the study area should be stepped up so as to facilitate raw milk availability. Better processing equipment for the local milk processing activities should also be researched into. There is also the need to provide credit facilities to local cow milk processors and traders alike as this will go a long way to supplement marketer’s personal savings.

Key words: retailers, consumers, marketing margin, marketing efficiency, personal savings