Determinants of accessibility to output markets by vegetable farmers in Jos South local government area of Plateau state, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the determinants of accessibility to output market by vegetable farmers in Jos South Local Government of Plateau State. One hundred and twenty sets of structured questionnaire were administered to the vegetable farmers using random sampling technique. Simple descriptive statistics and logit regression were used to analyze the data. The result obtained on socio-economic characteristics of the farmers revealed that males constituted 70% of the vegetable producers in the area. It further revealed that 70% of the farmers were married and 50% of the households had 5-7 persons. Educationally, 42% attended secondary school and 42% also attended tertiary institutions. The coefficients of the logit regression indicated that of the factors that determine vegetable farmers’ access to output market, cost of transportation and number of buyers at farm gate were significant (P<0.01). Distance to the markets, access to market information and influence of extension workers were significant (P<0.05). Therefore, rural roads especially those linking farms to nearby urban areas should be constructed. Also, prices of farm produce should be standardized with a view to ensuring that the farmers are favored. Farmers should be kept abreast of marketing information in distant markets through the use of ICT. They should also be encouraged to form cooperatives so as to maximize prices of their commodities.

Keywords: Accessibility, Determinants, Markets, Output, Vegetable