Marketing of bambara nut (okpa): Unlocking its potential for food and income security in Udenu Local Government Area, of Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

The work was carried out to analyze marketing of Bambara nut : unlocking its potential for food and income security in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. Considering its perceived high consumption in the study area and following some challenges in the supply of the produce. The specific objectives of the study described the various marketing functions performed by the marketers; estimated the cost and returns associated in bambara nut marketing in the study area; ascertained the factors that influence the net return from bambara nut marketers and identified the constraints faced by bambara nut marketers in the study area. Two (2) major markets in the study area were purposively selected; random sampling technique was used in selecting the respondents for the study. Data were collected from 80 respondents using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools such as; percentage, mean and frequencies, budgetary techniques and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression. The most common marketing functions performed by the marketers were identified to include exchange and physical functions. Result showed that mean net return from bambara marketing was ₦205251.12; cost benefit ratio was 1.26 and profitability index of the marketers was 0.21. The significant variables that affect net returns include household size (1%), marketing experience (1%), sex (1%), access to credit (10%), cooperative membership (1%), purchase cost (1%). However, high cost of transportation was the major constraint to marketing in the area. Marketers were recommended to undertake facilitating function which is used to describe those activities which make the exchange and physical distribution processes possible such as product standardization and grading, market promotion, financing, risk bearing and market intelligence.