This study compared the financial benefits of female traders obtained from Moringa oleifera with that from other leafy vegetables in Jalingo Local Government Area markets. It also identified challenges of trade in Moringa leaves in the area. Data collected from 120 respondents through a semi-structured questionnaire were analyzed using Prioritization matrix, Gross Margin (GM) analysis, and ANOVA. Daily mean Gross Income (GI) from Moringa leaves (NGN1127.84) and Amaranthus (NGN503.84) ranked first and second respectively with scores of 16 and 12. Sorrel leaves (NGN367.80) and Ceratotheca leaves (NGN380.42) ranked third and fourth respectively with 7 and 5 as scores. Daily mean GM of trade in Moringa leaves was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that from Amaranthus, Sorrel and Ceratotheca leaves. Trade in Moringa leaves therefore generated higher financial benefits than the other leafy vegetables. The challenges of its trade were poor sheds/storage facilities, inadequate processing equipment and sources of credit, as well as rottenness and seasonality in yield. The study recommended the provision of rural infrastructures as well as processing and storage facilities to improve trade benefits to the traders from these commodities.
This study investigates the profitability of trade in Moringa oleifera (Lam) Fresh Leaves and also examine the Socio-economic characteristics of Traders in Taraba State, between June, 2018 and May, 2019. Applying a multistage Sampling approach, 342 and 97 traders were randomly selected and administered with questionnaire in the wet and dry seasons respectively, to elicit data, which were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results on the socio-economic variables showed that female traders (94.7%), age class 31-40 (36.3%), Married (65.5%), Household size of 8 members and above (69.6%) and non-formal education (51.8%) featured dominantly in moringa fresh leaves trade. Furthermore, Gross Margin (GM) analysis showed that the monthly income from Moringa oleifera (Lam) fresh leaves was highest (N372.50 ± 125.15) in Ibi Local Government Area (LGA), while Bali LGA had the least GM of (N 88.83 ± 91.40) in the wet season. In the dry season, Gashaka LGA had the highest GM of N 228.00 (± 78.55), while Jalingo LGA was the least with GM of N 57.50 (± 86.68). The comparison of GM and Quantity of leaves sold (QLS) in the dry and rainy seasons were not significantly different. The Rate of Returns on Investment (RORI), Gross Margin Index (GMI) and Unit Price (UP) in the rainy and dry seasons were significantly at 0.05 level of probability. It is therefore recommended that Government and Non-government organisations (NGOs) should educate the traders on the marketing of Moringa oleifera leaves; Government and NGOs should also make loans available at one-digit rate; Government should put in place a security outfit to curtail the incessant crisis in Taraba; and traders should form cooperative society to access loans with the Bank of Industry through the Anchor Borrower scheme.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.