Abstract
This study examined the socioeconomic determinants of tomato retail marketing in Ibadan southwest Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria. The study was based on the primary data obtained in a cross section survey of 80 randomly selected tomato retail marketers drawn by multi-stage sampling across four (4) markets in the study area. The data were collected by personal administration of questionnaire designed to elicit information on the tomato retail marketers socio-economic characteristics and transportation and storage costs among others. The study data were analysed using descriptive and regression analysis. The result revealed that the modal age group for the tomato retail marketers was 31 to 50 years. Also, the average number per household was found to be of 5 persons with 71.3 and 82.5% being male. 86.3% of the respondents were educated with 5 to 15 years of marketing experience of about 60%. Also, about 81% of the respondents made tomato retail marketing their primary occupation. The regression analysis revealed that Age (X1), Years of marketing experience (X2), purchase cost (X4), labor cost (X5) and transportation cost (X6) were statistically significant at p≤0.05, p≤0.05, p≤1, p≤0.05, p≤0.01 and p≤0.1%, respectively out of the six postulated explanatory variables. The coefficient of multiple determination (R2) was 0.789 which shows that about 79% variations in profit of the tomato retail marketers were caused by variations in the Six (6) postulated explanatory variables. The gross margin analysis results revealed that the gross margin (profit) was N38, 076.00 per month. The study therefore concluded that transportation and storage cost were the major factors influencing profitability of retail tomato marketing in the study area. Hence, policy issue aim at encouraging tomato retail marketing will focus on provision of good transportation and storage facilities. Key words: Socio-economic, gross margin, tomato, retail marketing, Oyo State.
Highlights
This study was designed to examine the socioeconomic determinants of tomato retail marketing in Ibadan
Data from 80 retail tomato marketers were used for this study
The descriptive analysis result revealed that the modal age group for the tomato retail marketers was 31 to 50 years
Summary
Adejobi et al (2011) posited that among the wide range of agricultural crops, especially vegetables occupy an important place because of their economic potentials. Adegbola et al (2012) stated that Nigeria is undeniably the 14th largest producer of tomatoes, second to Egypt in Africa at 1.51 million metric tonnes valued at N 87.0 billion with a cultivated area of 254,430 ha being the biggest producer in Sub-Sahara Africa Most of these tomatoes are locally not processed, leading to increasing import dependency of tomato paste to the tone of 65,809 tons valued at N11.7 billion annually. Agricultural marketing involves all processes that take place from when the farmer plans to meet specified demands and market prospects to when the producers gets it to the consumers It recognizes the mutual independence between farmers and marketing middlemen which is the whole essence of marketing in management decision making (Haruna et al, 2012).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
