Agricultural Journal
Constraints to Contributions of Cassava Enterprise to Marketing Entrepreneurs’ Socio-Economic Status in South Eastern, Nigeria
Authors : O.T. Ikwuakam, A. Iyela and L.A. Akinbile
Abstract: Marketing of agricultural produce in Nigeria is characterized with myriads of constraints. These constraints as they relate to the contributions of cassava enterprise to marketing entrepreneurs’ Socio-Economic Status (SES) are yet to be ascertained. The study therefore examined these constraints in South Eastern, Nigeria. Snowball technique was used to identify 265 marketers from which list, 87 marketers were selected using simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using interview schedule. Analysis of data was done using frequency counts, percentages, mean scores, Chi-square and PPMC. The study showed that 71.3 and 75.9% of the respondents had mean age of 57 and 43 years of experience, respectively. Majority (65.5%) was educated up to secondary school level and 71.3% were female. The result further revealed that majority (46.5%) earned mean annual income of 
225395±32.59 and 65.5% derived high benefit from cassava marketing. Finance (weighted score 200) ranked first as constraint while the SES of majority (92.0%) was moderate. Experience (χ2 = 21.366, p = 0.000) showed significant relationship with SES of cassava marketers. A significant correlation exists between benefits derived (r = 0.321, p = 0.002), constraints (r = -0.842, p = 0.018) and marketers’ SES. Cassava marketing entrepreneurs are faced with numerous constraints with moderate SES. There is need for funding intervention to boast entrepreneurs marketing activities as this will mean increasing their productivity in cassava enterprise.
How to cite this article:
O.T. Ikwuakam, A. Iyela and L.A. Akinbile, 2015. Constraints to Contributions of Cassava Enterprise to Marketing Entrepreneurs’ Socio-Economic Status in South Eastern, Nigeria. Agricultural Journal, 10: 12-16.