Abstract:
The study assessed production and marketing strategies adopted by vegetable farmers in Ebonyi
State, Nigeria. Primary data collected from 240 vegetable farmers using structured questionnaire
and interview schedules were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics such as
percentages, means, frequency tables, multiple regression and factor analysis. It was found that
majority of the farmers (67%) were female while (33%) were males. A mean score ranking of
farmer's production and marketing strategies revealed that most of the farmers adopted early
planting (x = 2.84), quality warranty (x = 2.89), and incentive system (x = 2.85) among
others on production basis while on the basis of marketing, direct-to-consumer (x = 2.85), word
of mouth/relationship marketing (x = 2.84), were adopted among others. Result of the multiple
regression analysis showed an R
2 of 0.767 indicating that there was significant relationship
between farmers socio-economic characteristics and their vegetable output as specified in the
model. The result of factor analysis identified five critical factors in which production and
marketing constraints were captured. These included institutional/infrastructural, financial,
technical, environmental and social factors. Based on the findings the study recommended that
farmers can improve on their production and marketing strategies through improved information
systems, development of financial markets, promotion of market-based price and yield insurance
scheme, to ensure that marginal farmers are able to benefit from these interventions as well as
participate in the emerging systems. |
