Structure of Dry White Maize (<i>Zea Mays</i>) Market in Southeastern, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the structure of participants in dry white maize (zea mays) marketing in Southeast, Nigeria. Specifically, it described the roles and linkages of dry white maize intermediaries and examined the dry white maize market structure in the study area. Multi-stage sampling method was used to select select three States (Anambra, Enugu and Imo), 15 Local Government Area (LGAs), 15 largest and busiest daily markets and 225 intermediaries (75 wholesalers and 150 retailers for the study) who were served with structured questionnaire to obtain primary data. Descriptive statistics, such as frequency distribution, flow chart and percentage were used to describe the market channels. The Gini coefficient was used to determine the market concentration or nature of competition in the market i.e. market structure. Four channels of dry maize were identified. Gini coefficient indices of 0.321 for producers/suppliers of white maize, 0.285 and 0.224 for wholesalers and retailers of white maize maize reflected evidence of a fairly competitive market. Government should provide necessary transportation facilities such as good network of roads and mass transit vehicles so as to ameliorate the transportation problems of the marketers, improve the distribution system and reduce unhealthy competition amongst the marketers.