This study examined the economic analysis of fish processing and marketing in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria using structured, validated and pre-tested interview schedules to collect primary data from one hundred and thirteen respondents. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the socio-economic characteristics, access to productive resources and constraints faced by fish processors while budgetary analysis was used to determine profitability. The result reveals that 99.0% of the respondents were females, 57.4% were within their active economic age group (41 - 50 years), about 50.0% were educated and 82.3% were married. The scale of operation was on small scale level. The result of the budgetary analysis show that average total cost of N53,530.08 was incurred, average total revenue of N58,340.71 was realized and a returning gross margin of N37,088.44. The profitability ratio gave a benefit-cost ratio of 1.089 and expense structure ratio of 0.0603. This is an indication that fish processing business is profitable and viable in the study area. Despite the high profitability of the business, fish processors identified lack of collateral security for bank loan (96.5%), erratic power supply (92.0%) and lack of modern fish processing facilities (43.4%) as their most prevailing problems. With this high level of profitability and viability in fish processing and marketing, it is recommended that Government, cooperative societies, private bodies and non-governmental organizations should provide basic amenities such as storage facilities, electricity, transportation facilities and modern fish processing facilities in other to boost fish production in Nigeria as well as single digit Bank loan with civil servants as guarantors as means of collateral security.

In this article, the Enterprise assessment across cassava peels value chain in Ogun State Nigeria is examined. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 180 cassava processors and marketers. Socio-economic data were obtained from respondents with the use of pre-tested questionnaires. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, budgetary technique, Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) and Student t-test. The study found that majority (84.3% and 52.8%) of processors of cassava peels and marketers were female. In addition, 60.2% of the processors and 51.4% of the marketers had secondary education. The value chain activities carried out by processors were transportation, drying and packaging while marketers transported, packaged and put the peels in storage for future sales. The SFA revealed that cost of labour (p<0.01) and quantity of fresh cassava peels (p<0.01) were the main determinants of output of dried cassava peels by the processors. The inefficiency model revealed that the efficiency of producing dried cassava peels increased with increase in age (p<0.01), credit access (p<0.01), household size (p<0.01) and membership of cooperative society (p<0.01). Furthermore, the cost function revealed that cost of sieving (p<0.05) and depreciation on capital item (p<0.01) increased the production cost of dried cassava peels. The mean technical, allocative and economic efficiency of producing dried cassava peels were estimated as 94%, 83% and 78% respectively. This study concluded that production of cassava peels is efficient and its trade is profitable. The study recommends that cassava processors and marketers should form cooperative groups to increase access to credit for higher output and trade of peels.

The study examined the economics of yam flour processing in Saki, Oyo State, Nigeria. Primary data were obtained using questionnaire. A multistage sampling procedure was used in selecting one hundred and twenty (120) yam processors. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, budgetary analysis and multiple regressions. Results revealed that 86.5% of yam flour processors were female, 71.2% were married, and 41.4% had primary education. In addition, mean age, household size and production experience of the processors of yam flour were 40 years, 6 persons and 15 years respectively. The gross margin and net farm income were N146,770.03 and N141,536.79 per processing cycle, while the return on investment was 3.25 for every N1 invested which implies that yam flour processing is profitable. Multiple regression revealed that the coefficient of labour cost, transportation cost, cost of storage and packaging and distance to market were negatively significant at 5%, 1%, 1%, and 1% probability level. Also, year of processing experience and membership of association were positively significant at 1% and 5% probability level respectively. The main constraints facing processors of yam flour in the study area were inadequate storage facilities, lack of infrastructural facilities and problem associated with climate change. It is therefore recommended that policies that would enhance large processing capacity so that at the long-run, output and profit can be maximized.