Spatial market integration of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in Adamawa state, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate agricultural price transmission across space and time of cowpea in Taraba State, Nigeria. Secondary data was the main sources of data which was collected from the prominent market in the State on weekly basis for the period of 16 months (between November 2021 to February 2022). Purposive sampling technique was adopted for the selection of cowpea markets on the basis of production output and market activities. Inferential statistics were used as analytical tools which involved the use of Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) test, Johansen Co-integration Model, Granger Causality tests and Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). The results of the study indicates that price of cowpea in the study area were stationary at first order of difference at 5% significant level. The result of Johansen cointegration analysis was based on trace statistics, which revealed high existence of co-integration among the market pairs in the study areas. The analysis of the study reveals that there exist bidirectional and unidirectional causality between cowpea markets. The study confirms the existence long run relationship running from Sabon Kasuwan Mubi to other market and also the existence of short run relationship among the market pairs in the study area. The study concludes that there is a strong co-integration between cowpea markets in Taraba State due to efficient free flow of price signals and market information between market pairs. Cowpea markets in the research area have a long-run and short run dynamic. It is therefore, recommended that government should make market infrastructure a priority in the State by providing storage facilities and a robust transportation system.