FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION FLOW OF AGRO-BASED COMMODITIES FROM KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION FLOW OF AGRO-BASED COMMODITIES FROM KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2015-08
Authors
MASUGARI, Danjuma Yakubu
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Abstract
Transportation and distribution of agro-based commodities is very necessary for the survival of any community. This study attempt to analyse freight transportation flow of agro-based communities from Kaduna State, Nigeria. The objectives are to: Determine the inter-regional freight flow of agricultural commodities in the distribution hubs, identify the modes of transport used in generating and distributing freight to and from the hubs,establish the sphere of influence of the four distribution hubs,and examine the problems militating against the inter regional freight transportation of agricultural commodities in the study areas. Data were obtained from both primary and secondary sources. Information were gathered from transporters and traders surveyed in four major distribution hubs, namely Saminaka, Soba, Makarfi,and Giwa using systematic sampling technique. In all, 345 were successfully interviewed, 165 for transporters and 180 for the traders. Data collected from the questionnaires were analysed using simple descriptive statistics. The findings shows that out of the 165 respondents sampled on the issue of truck ownership, 80.6% of them lay claim to their vehicles while 58.2% respondents use canters. The heavy trucks are mostly involved in long distance haulage travel especially to states like Lagos, Rivers. Borno etc. while the canters transport agricultural commodities to definite locations like Kano, Abuja, Nasarawa, and Katsina. Grains are mostly supplied from the four distribution hubs with 161 respondents attesting to the fact. Similarly, analysis on the major logistical problems faced by transporters in the distribution of agricultural commodities from the four distribution hubs reveal that frequent checkpoints resulting to harassment by law enforcement agents is higher at 28.48% followed by armed robbery attack indicating 21.82% while Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) causes most problem during the flow of agricultural commodities for the respondents with about 36.36% of them indicating to it. Finding shows that 40% of the traders involved in the marketing of agricultural commodities are retailers and 80.5% of the respondents buy agricultural commodities for trading in the market. Findings also indicates that 58.3% of the respondent say they do not have any storage facilities in their distribution hub while 41.7% of the respondents say they have where to store their goods.The implications of this findings are that local, state and federal government as well as private sector should invest more in the transportation and distribution of agricultural commodities by improving road condition, enhance the productivity of the transporters through the Sure-p programme to attract more youth into the transportation business while also providing storage facilities, parking space for vehicles and proper training of law enforcement agents and drivers.
Description
AN M.Sc. DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE MASTERS IN SCIENCE DEGREE (M.Sc.) IN TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT. DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY FACULTY OF SCIENCE AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
Keywords
FREIGHT,, TRANSPORTATION,, FLOW,, AGRO-BASED,, COMMODITIES,, KADUNA STATE,, NIGERIA