Structure and Efficiency of Trade in Wild Snail in Selected Markets in Ibadan Metropolis, Oyo state, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the structure and efficiency of trade in wild snail in Selected Markets in five
purposively selected popular markets in Ibadan metropolis, Oyo state Nigeria. Primary data were obtained from a
hundred and twenty (120) snail marketers with the use of structured questionnaire and analyzed using Descriptive
statistics, Gini coefficient and budgetary analysis. According to the study, 80% of the respondents sourced their
goods (snails) from the wild and the selling price is largely determined by the socio economic status of the buyer
(40%). Also the enterprise is dominated by females (83.3%), more profitable in Apata market with a profit margin of ₦167,000 and generally efficient. Furthermore there is high inequality in the structure of the market as the gini coefficient (0.59) tends towards one while the major constraints to  marketing include transportation (from the wild to the market) competition among marketers and storage. The study therefore recommends that snail farming (heliculture) should be encouraged so that there will be massive production and availability of snails all year round. This would mitigate the identified problems and increase the benefits accruing to players in the snail value chain.

Keywords: Structure, Efficiency, Wild snail, Ibadan metropolis, Profit Margin.