ASSESSMENT OF MARKETING TOMATO FRUITS (LYCOPERSICON ESCULENTUM) AMONG WOMEN IN UGHELLI NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, DELTA STATE

OKPEKE, MERCY YEMI

Department of Agric. Extension and Management, School of Agric.

Delta State Polytechnic, Delta State, Nigeria.

E-mail: mercyokpeke@gmail.com; okpekemercy@yahoo.com

Abstract: The paper examined the marketing of tomato fruit in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State with a view to identify the socio-economic characteristics of tomato marketers, to determine the marketing margin, source of fund and to ascertain the constraints faced by women marketing tomato fruit in the study area. Data were randomly collected with the aid of well structured questionnaire from 40 respondents for the 2013 marketing season. The data collected were analyzed using frequency distribution, percentage, and gross marketing margin analysis. The result showed that 75% of the respondents used personal savings as source of capital for their enterprises. The study revealed that the average monthly purchasing price was N54,715.75 while the average monthly selling price was N160,478.75 per basket per woman. The gross marketing margin was N120,113.50 per woman per month. The study also revealed that marketing of tomato is a profitable venture but the major constraints were inadequate capital, high cost of loading and off loading the product, lack of storage facilities, low level of sales, high cost of transportation, and high purchasing price. It was therefore, recommended that State and Local Governments should boost agricultural lending to tomato marketers and government policies should be focused on assisting the marketers with credit facilities that can help them cope with challenges of marketing.

Keywords: Marketing Margin, Tomato Fruits, Women, Delta State.