ABSTRACT
The study assessed the effect of use of road transportation on marketing of agricultural produce among rural farmers in Imo State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used in sampling 180 respondents for the study. Data for the study were collected with the use of structured questionnaire and analyzed with IBM software SPSS version 20 statistics package. The result showed that the majority (62.2%), had mean age of 39 years, 82.8% were married, had household size of 8 persons, had mean household size of 1 hectare, about 46.7% had primary education and earned mean monthly income of N142,000. The result further revealed that motorcycle (54.4%) was the major mode of transportation used in marketing agricultural produce in the study area. The result also revealed that the respondents to a high extent utilized motorcycle ( =3.89), keke ( =3.28) and bicycle ( =3.11) for the transportation of agricultural produce in the study area. The result on the perceived effect of the use of road transportation on agricultural marketing revealed a grand mean of 3.31 affirming that road transportation modes had positive effect on marketing of agricultural produce in the study area. The result equally revealed that the constraints associated to the use of road transportation in the marketing of agricultural produce were bad roads (81.1%), high cost of transportation (80.0%), illiteracy (72.8%) and perishability of agro-produce (55.0%). The result for hypothesis one showed that coefficients of age (5%), marital status (5%), education (1%), household size (1%), farm size (1%) and income (1%) were the determinants of the extent of use of modes of transportation in the study area. The result of hypothesis two revealed that use of road transportation modes had positive and significant influence on agricultural marketing at 1% alpha level. The study concluded that the extent of use of modes of transportation was an influential factor in the marketability of agricultural products. The study recommended that motorable roads should be constructed between farm gates and markets to enable easy access to the markets.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Certification ii
Declaration iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgments v
Table of Contents vii
List of Tables xi
List of Figure xii
Abstract xiii
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study 1
1.2 Problem Statement 5
1.3 Research Questions 7
1.4 Objectives of the Study 8
1.5 Hypothesis 8
1.6 Justification of the Study 9
1.7 Definition of Terms 9
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Concept of Rural Road
Transportation 11
2.2 Rural Transportation Problem in
Nigeria 15
2.3 Road Transportation Network
Pattern 17
2.4 Road Transportation and Property
Value 21
2.5 Road Transportation and
Accessibility 23
2.6 Patterns of Road Transportation
Network and Marketing Property Values 26
2.7 Road Transportation Network
Classification and Analytical Measures 29
2.8 Rural Road Transportation
Interventions and Poverty Reduction 30
2.9 Agricultural Marketing 34
2.10 Agricultural Marketing in
Nigeria 37
2.11 Agricultural Market Reforms
Necessary in Nigeria 37
2.12 Major
Problems of Agricultural Marketing in Nigeria 39
2.13 Measures that could Reflect an
Improved Agricultural Marketing System 46
2.14 Types of Agricultural Markets 49
2.15 Marketing of Agricultural
Products 51
2.16 Distribution of Agricultural
Produce 52
2.17 The Role of Agriculture in
Nigerian’s Economy 53
2.18 Road Transportation System in
Imo State Nigeria 55
2.19 Importance of Road
Transportation on Agricultural Marketing 55
2.20 Effect of Road Transportation
to Agricultural Marketing 58
2.21 Models of Road Transportation
Classification and Hierarchy 59
2.22 Theoretical Framework 60
2.22.1 Agglomeration economies and
location theory 60
2.23 Conceptual Framework 63
2.23.1 Independent
variables 65
2.23.2 Dependent
variables 65
2.23.3 Intervening
variables 66
2.23.4 Outcome 66
2.23.5 Effect 66
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY
3.1 Study Area 67
3.2 Sample and Sampling Procedure 68
3.4 Method of Data Collection 69
3.5 Validity of the Instrument 69
3.6 Test of Reliability of the
Instrument 69
3.7 Method of Data Analysis 69
3.8 Multiple Regression Model 70
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS
PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Socio-Economic Characteristics of Agricultural
Produce Marketers in the
Study Area 72
4.2
Modes of Road Transportation used in the Transportation of Agricultural Produce 78
4.3
Extent of Use of Road Transportation of Agricultural Produces 80
4.4
Perceived Effect of the Use of Road Transportation on Agricultural Marketing 82
4.5
Constraints to Use of Road Transport in Marketing of Agricultural Produces 83
4.6
Test of Hypotheses 85
CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY,
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1
Summary 92
5.2
Conclusion 94
5.3
Recommendations 94
References 96
Appendices
LIST OF TABLES
4.1:
Socio-Economic Characteristics 74
4.2:
Mode of Transportation of Agricultural Produces 78
4.3: Extent of Usage of Different Modes of
Transportation of
Agricultural
Produces 80
4.4: Perceived Effect of Road Transportation on
Marketing of
Agricultural
Produce in the Study Area 82
4.5: Constraints to Road Transportation on
Agricultural Produces for
Marketing
84
4.6:
Relationship between the Socio-Economic Characteristics of the
Respondents and Extent of used Road
Transportation Marketing of
Agricultural Product. 86
4.7:
Simple Regression Analysis on the Influence of use of Road
Transportation
on Marketing of Agricultural Produces in the
Study
Area. 90
LIST OF FIGURE
1: Conceptual
Framework of the Effect of use of Road Transportation on
Marketing
of Agricultural Produce among Rural Farmers in
Imo Sate,
Nigeria. 64
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Road transportation plays an
important role in agricultural development (Ajiboye, 2007). This is because it
is the major means of transporting agricultural produce from the farms to the
markets as well as to various urban communities for marketing purposes
(Ajiboye, 2007). Road transportation is regarded as an important factor
involved in agricultural development all over the world (World Bank, 2012). It
is the only means by which food produced at farm site is moved to different
homes as well as markets. According to Filani (2005) road transportation
creates market for agricultural produce, enhances interaction among
geographical and economic regions and opens up new areas to economic focus.
However World Bank (2012) asserted
that for any development to take place, road transportation plays a crucial
role. Ogunsanya (2009) observed that there are three types of routes in the
rural areas. These are bush paths, unsurfaced rural roads and surfaced rural
roads. However, the bush path is very common but the least developed of all the
routes (Ogunsanya, 2009). Bush paths link villages with farmsteads and they are
usually narrowed, winding and sometimes over grown by weeds especially during
the rainy season (Aderamo and Magaji, 2010).
In a study carried out by Filani
(2005) in rural areas of Nigeria, it was found that where motorable roads exist
they are mostly of unpaved surface, narrow width, circuitous alignment and with
low quality bridges. In most cases, they are either clad with potholes or
characterized by depressions and sagging. Such unsurfaced roads are hardly
passable during the rainy season when vehicles get stuck in mud or when the
improvised bridges of cut-tree trunks get swept away by flood (Filani, 2005).
In another study carried out by Ogunsanya
(2008) on relationship between transportation, underdevelopment and rurality,
he observed that the greater the degree of rurality, the lower the level of
road transportation development. Aderamo and Magaji (2010) noted that road
transportation constitutes the main avenue through which different parts of the
society are linked together. Aloba (2008) cited by Ajiboye and Afolayan (2009)
noted that road transportation is the most common and complex network. It
covers a wide range, physically convenient, highly flexible and usually the
most operationally suitable and readily available means of movement of
agricultural produce for marketing over short, medium and long distances
(Ajiboye and Afolayan, 2009).
According to Ajiboye (2007),
availability of road transportation facilities is a critical investment factor
that stimulates economic growth through increased accessibility. Paul et al., (2009) pointed out that the
impacts of road transportation on agricultural produce for marketing are
particularly important in Sub-Saharan Africa for three reasons. First, the agricultural
sector accounts for a large share of gross domestic product (GDP) in most
Sub-Saharan countries (Paul et al., 2009).
Second, poverty is concentrated in rural areas. Finally, the relatively low
levels of road transportation infrastructure and long average travel time
result in high transaction costs for marketing of agricultural produce and this
limits agricultural productivity and growth (Paul et al., 2009).
According to Mabogunje (2008), some
of the variables that determine the level of development in a given environment
are easy accessibility and mobility. Road transportation affects agricultural
marketing because it is the only means by which rural farmers can transport
their produce to the market. Poor road transportation in the rural areas has
resulted in low productivity, low income and a fall in the standard of living
of rural farmers and high rate of poverty (Aloba, 2008). When the distance of
farm to the market is far and the road is rough, perishable crops may be
destroyed and the rural farmers may run at a loss (Aloba, 2008).
According to Vaughan (2007), basic
economic theory production is never complete until what produced gets to the
final consumers, and it is only through transportation that this objective can
be effectively achieved. Transportation in relation to agricultural marketing
is mainly by road in which the vehicular traffic consists of cars, Lorries,
buses, tippers etc, and sea which consist of canoes and boats (Stratton,
2008). Also pedestrian traffic and by
head are not entirely excluded, but are mainly used for short distance market
within the rural areas (Richmond, 2009).
However, Picket and Perrett (2010), asserted
that this mode of transportation is mostly applicable to some agricultural
products which require movement only over short distance to and from market
places between adjoining villages and nearby town. Also a slow and inefficient
mode of transportation, commonly called head portage, was the oldest in the
system but was largely made possible by the existence of bush paths which were
not conducive for vehicles and bicycles as means of road transportation for
agricultural produce.
Similar views were also held by
Tischendorf and Fahrig (2009) as observed in the role of government in food and
agricultural production. That apart from the poor conditions of the roads, all
forms of carrier services, lorries, boats and trains are inadequate and
ill-equipped to meet up with such cases. Transportation charges are not fixed
(Ambrose, 2005). They vary with the condition of road, type of produce and
season of the year. However Balchin et
al., (2006) observed that there is complete lack of regulation and
standardization of the carrier trade especially with regards to agricultural
marketing, a distinction between passenger in one, and goods and services on
the other. In their assertions, Olayiwola et
al., (2005) expressed that Lorry owners refuse to carry foodstuffs but
accept passengers, and in cases they accept to carry food stuffs, the rate are
exploitative and highly variable. Beside the inadequacies, road network
services are inefficiently executed.
However, Smith and Skinner (2002)
noted that the primary requirement of an efficient agricultural marketing
transportation service is not only that cost to the cost to the users be
lowest, but also that goods be moved quickly with a little delay as possible
and recommended. Also that rural road should be provided since they are very
essential for the prompt evacuation of produce from farms to market places.
Taylor (2009) in recognition of the inputs of road transportation system to
agricultural marketing observed that construction of rural road may induce an
immediate response in improved agricultural output. However, these results according to Hay
(2007) can only be expected when a road is built through a fertile area
inhabited by enterprising. However, there are many examples of roads that were
built under less favourable condition which have led to little or no
appreciable increase in agricultural output. For example where there is an
absence of mark, or of inputs necessary to increase production, these factors
individually or in combination will limit the development impacts of better
access (Lean and Goddall, 2007).
According to Pred (2006) in terms of
agricultural marketing, present state of road transportation network is poor
and does not encourage increased agricultural production. The services make the
transportation of agricultural products from the rural farms to the areas of
need difficult (Oni, 2008). It also encourages waste of rural farmers’ time and
money (Sing, 2005).
Garrison and Marble (2009) observed
that the role of motorable feed road is directly linked to the amount of
agricultural marketable surplus that can reach the market. However, Ajiboye and
Afolayan (2009) observed that though the Nigeria rural farmers still consume an
appreciable amount of their produce, the amount that could reach the markets
from individual rural farmers is determined by the mode of road transportation.
1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT
In Imo state, roads transportation
constitute perhaps, the most important infrastructure in the transportation of
her agricultural produce (Ajaero, 2011). The present condition or state of
roads in Imo State especially in rural area of the state are in disorder and
has really done a lot of havoc to the entire populace, ranging from hike in
road transportation fares, frequent breakdown of vehicles on the roads, armed
robbery attacks, hampering marketing of agricultural products to mention but a
few (Ajaero, 2011). Rural farmers in Imo state are really suffering from these
poor road connection and breakdowns in their domain, which has resulted to loss
over 20% to 30% of the farm produce due to these bad road conditions (Paul et al., 2009).
This condition of road
transportation has frustrated rural development efforts in the area and has
resulted in series of challenges such as cutting off of many rural areas from
neighbouring rural areas and larger settlements from which they could not
access other socio-economic services which has resulted in low productivity,
low income and fall in standard of living of rural dwellers and high rate of
poverty (Paul et al., 2009). Also
this problem of rural road transportation in Imo State has resulted to high
transportation charges which vary with the conditions of roads, types of
produce and seasons of the year (Anyadike, 2009). It has also prevented rural
farmers in Imo State in specializing in the crops that offer them the best
return for marketing (Anyadike, 2009). Where rural road transportation is
inadequate rural farmers’ attempts to keep their family supplies with all their
needs and they therefore retain more foods than they actually need. This is
because if they run short it will be difficult to tap other resources and this
entails higher loss as a result of poor rural road transportation. This
according to Ajiboye and Afolayan (2009) often poses a problem because urban
dwellers will be faced with dearth of food stuffs and other essential goods
manufactured from agricultural materials. These problems that confronts road
transportation in Imo state, therefore hinders its ability to improve the
system of agricultural marketing.
According to Aderamo and Magaji
(2010), if agriculture is to respond to the growing demand then it will be
necessary to evolve a good progressive rural structure with rural roads to expedite
and reduce the cost of flow of agricultural commodities, information and all
sorts of rural services to enable it contribute meaningfully to generate
economic growth through agricultural marketing. This as observed by Filani
(2005) will help accommodate increased traffic flows in both directions, inputs
moving from the urban areas to farms and output in the opposite directions. The
task involves very large additions to rural roads mode and maintaining existing
rural roads.
Recently, most government policies
and efforts towards agricultural development are geared towards provision of
agricultural inputs such as improved varieties, agrochemicals, fertilizers,
finance among others. What happens to the products after bumper harvest has
never received government attention. How the farmers transport their products
from the farm gate to their houses and markets (local or regional markets) seem
to have received little or no attention from the agricultural stakeholders.
There seem to exist dearth of data on the effects of road transportation on
agricultural marketing among rural farmers in Imo State. It is therefore
against this background that an attempt was made to carry out this study.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
This study was guided by the
following research questions:
1. What are the different modes of road
transportation used in evacuation of agricultural produce in the study area?
2. To what extent do farmers use this
road transportation in the marketing of agricultural produce?
3. What is the perceived effect of road
transportation on the marketing of agricultural produce in the study area?
4. What constraints limit effective
marketing of agricultural produces in the study area?
1.4
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The broad objective of the study was
to assess the effect of the use of road transportation on marketing of
agricultural produce among rural farmers in Imo State Nigeria. The specific
objectives were to:
1. ascertain different modes of road
transportation used in transporting agricultural produce;
2. ascertain the extent of farmers use
of these modes of transportation in the marketing of agricultural produce;
3. ascertain the perceived effect of
road transportation on the marketing of agricultural produce;
4. identify constraints to use of road
transportation in the marketing of agricultural produces in the study area.
1.5 HYPOTHESES
H01: There is no
significant relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents
on transportation channel adopted for marketing of agricultural produce in the
study area.
H02: There
is no significant relationship between use of road transportation and marketing
of agricultural produces in the study area.
1.6 JUSTIFICATION OF
THE STUDY
The justification of this study is
due to the gainful and developmental inputs agriculture can make to the economy
and most importantly to the tremendous role of road transportation on
agricultural marketing on regional economies. This is because road
transportation as well as agricultural marketing are usually regarded as
closely related since each of them influences the fortunes and relative rate of
growth of other facets of the economy.
The justification of the study is
further highlighted considering that in Nigeria, the road is the mode of
transportation by which all the states (most inclusively rural to urban areas)
of federation are linked especially with regards to the movement and
distribution of agricultural products from various rural areas of production to
the different urban areas of the states where they are sold or marketed for
consumption (i.e. agricultural marketing).
Finally, the study shall also serve
as a stimulant or reference guide for further research in this area especially
in this era of population explosion and impending food shortage.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
1) Agriculture: This is the science or art that involves all activities
directed towards food production.
2) Farming: These are activities that are directed towards the
cultivation of agricultural products towards satisfying needs and wants.
3) Market: A set of people and organization with latent or manifest
needs to satisfy the money to spend and the willingness to spend it on need
satisfying goods and services either now or in the foreseeable future.
4) Retailer: A business fellow whose sales come primarily from retailing.
5) Industrial products: Products bought by individuals and
organizations for further processing for use in conducting business.
6) Agricultural marketing: This is the performance of all
business activities involved in the flow of agricultural products and services
from the point of initial agricultural production until they are in the hands
of the consumer. It involves the application of the knowledge of marketing to
the formulation, implementation and control of activities which are directly or
related to agriculture.
7) Agent: A wholesaler who represents buyers and sellers on relatively
permanent basis and performs only a few functions and also does not take title
of goods.
8) Consumers: They are individual groups and families that produce to meet
their satisfaction.
9) Consumer market: These are all the individuals and
households who buy or acquire goods and services for personal consumption.
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