Analysis of Palm Oil Marketing among Women Marketers in Umuahia Agricultural Zone, Abia State

Abstract

The study was conducted as an analysis of palm oil marketing among women in Umuahia Agricultural Zone, Abia State. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 72 respondents for the study. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistical tools such as means, frequencies and percentages. A budgetary approach and multiple regression model were also used. Results of the analysis showed that women marketers participated in the assembling, storage, buying and selling of palm oil in the study area and did not participate in the transportation of palm oil. The total variable cost was estimated at ₦30,250.60, which is about 75.06% of the total cost. It also showed that the cost of palm oil bought formed the major cost, such that it was 50.25% of the total marketing cost. The respondents realized a total revenue of ₦94,440.50 and the total marketing cost was ₦ 40, 300.81. The profitability index estimate of 1.34 was recorded, implying that 134k was received as the net margin for every N1 received as the value of sales and this buttresses the profitability of palm oil marketing among women in the study area. More so, the marketing efficiency computation suggests that the palm oil marketing enterprise was 134.24% efficient in the study area. Age was statistically significant at a 1% probability level and had an inverse relationship with the marketing efficiency of the respondents. Education was statistically significant at a 1% significant level and positively related to marketing efficiency. Access to credit was statistically significant at a 1% significant level and positively related to marketing efficiency. The coefficient of cooperative membership was statistically significant at 1% and positively related to marketing efficiency.  The most common constraints to palm oil marketing among the women in the study area in the order of their magnitude include bulkiness (94.44%), inadequate market information (93.06%), poor storage facilities (76.39%), bad road network (69.44%), lack of government subsidy/credit (62.50%), remoteness of markets (59.72%), high cost of transportation (56.94%) and poor pricing (55.56%). The study therefore recommended that transportation facilities and market infrastructure like good roads, vehicles, electricity and storage facilities should be made available in the study area by government and relevant stakeholders this would make participation in the transportation of palm oil and other relevant activities easier for women.