This study examined marketing margin and transaction cost in pearl millet market supply in Borno State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study include; examine socio-economic characteristics of the millet chain actors; estimate profit margin, marketing margin, and gross margin for millet chain actors; measure transaction costs associated with millet supply and; identify constraints to millet supply to markets. Purposively, five major millet markets were selected within the state and a total of 120 respondents were considered at random for the study. Findings showed that the highest mean age of the marketers recorded was among wholesalers of millet (46.5 years). The educational attainment of the chain actors showed that all the actors had one form of education or the other but majority had Qur'anic education with the highest attainment showing 90.9% among producers. Millet supply experience showed 41.2% among wholesalers as the most experienced and the least experienced suppliers recorded were among retailers (32.6%). The findings revealed that despite the highest marketing margin incurred by the wholesalers in supplying and marketing of millet in the study area; they also incur the highest profit margin (13.73%). The study revealed transportation cost as the highest transaction cost in pearl millet supply chain in the study area (55%). The percentage of those placing orders with suppliers and the proportion of purchases by order were highest among wholesalers (67.1%) and least was among collectors (12.3%). The proportion of purchases on order was highest (75%) among wholesalers and the least (12.3%) was among collectors. Despite these general problems, transportation was the major problem faced by the suppliers (84.0%). The study recommends formation of group cooperative to avert the high cost of transportation and storage to enhance profit margin among millet suppliers.

This study examined women in commercialized subsistence economies: profit and factors influencing participation in small-scale cereal processing and marketing in Maiduguri, Borno state, Nigeria. Specific objective include; examine socioeconomic characteristics of the women participating in processing and marketing of cereal; determine the factors influencing women participating in processing and marketing of cereal; examine the profitability of processing and marketing of cereal; identify women sources of initial investment in the business and identify constraints to processing and marketing of cereal in the study area. Cluster sampling technique was adopted, six (6) areas selected, and ten (10) women (processors and marketers) were randomly selected, marking sixty (60) women for the study. Findings of the study indicated that most of the women belong to the age bracket of 31 and above years (51.67%), while 48.33% were between the ages of 18~30yrs, The data on capital indicated 90% had an average initial investment 5,000 Naira and only 1.67% of the women participants invested an average of 65,000 Naira in the business. Revelation on profitability showed that N 2, 287.72 k as gross margin in the processing of cereal in the study area per 100kg bag and that the highest cost incurred in the business was in the processing of the grains constituting 63.51% and the second highest cost incurred was cost of transportation (19.57%). The regression estimates suggest number of measures (mudus) sold/day; household size and start up capital significant at 1%. However, the negativity of the coefficients of age, marital status, household size, and education indicates that a 1% change in these variables will attract a reduction in the participation of women in the processing and marketing of cereal in the study area. The findings on problems indicated lack of credit facilities (36.67%) as the most identified problem hindering their participation in processing and marketing cereal. Only 28.33% cited price fluctuation. The study recommends formation of group cooperative to enhance acquisition of loans for the business.

No abstract