PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF SOYBEANS MARKETING IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA
PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF SOYBEANS MARKETING IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
1983-06
Authors
Godfrey, Obiesie Chuke
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Abstract
A survey of sixty soybeans farmers in three Tivtspeaking
districts, viz, Gboko, Katsina-Ala, and Vandeikya; and
twenty soybean traders in two soybeans markets, namely
Tyowanye and Wanune, in Benue State was carried out to
identify and describe the problems in the marketing
system for soybeans in the study areas; to determine
the marketable and marketed surpluses of soybeans among
the selected farmers; to determine the factors that
affected both surpluses and to assess the prospects for
an improved soybean marketing system in the state. The
results of the study show that there were mainly problems
of low pricing, transportation and unreliability of
soybeans traders as farmers' main sources of market news
and information; but also problems of poor market
information system; inadequate storage facilities;
and lack of grades and standards in soybean marketing
system in the state.
The problem of poor pricing of the crop, especially
as it relates to the Nigerian Groundnut Board (N.G.B)
should ease if the board, in fixing producer prices,
gives more weight to farmers' production cost and other
relevant domestic market variables, while reducing or
even completely removing the influence of world market
prices on domestic producer prices (since the board
no longer finds it necessary to export soybeans from
the country). The other problems identified were
largely structural in nature, and would hopefully
diminish as the state moves further along the road of
development.
Using correlation analysis, the study found that
factors such as "soybeans output", farmers' "family
strength" and "soybean price" had positive and
significant effects on marketed soybeans surplus.
Increase in these factors should therefore result in
increase of the surplus. The introduction of improved
soybean lines, coupled with the possibility of
supplementing human labour with machine labour in
soybean cultivation is likely to bring about increases
in soybean yields in the future. These factors therefore
point to good prospects for increased soybeans supplies
in future, other things being equal. The prospects for
increased soybean demand are also assessed as good. This
is due to the increasing use of soybeans for the production
of the local food - seasoning material called "daddawa",
the increasing use of soybeans by vegetable oil mills
in Nigeria for the production of soybean oil and meal,
and also due to the plan of the Benue State Government
to establish a large soybean processing plant in the
state. Entrance of the state government, as a major
soybean buyer, in the soybean trade would help to
stabilize the market.
Given good demand and supply prospects, and the
expectation that the problems in the soybean marketing
system in Benue State will gradually reduce as more
economic and infrastructural development occur in the
state, the study concluded that prospects exist for
increased and improved soybean marketing in the state.
Description
A Thesis submitted to the Postgraduate School of Ahmadu
Bello University, Zaria, in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science
(Agricultural Economics)
Department of Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology
Faculty of Agriculture
Ahmadu Bello University
Zaria
June, 1983
Keywords
PROBLEMS,, PROSPECTS,, SOYBEANS,, MARKETING,, BENUE STATE,, NIGERIA.