Poverty Alleviation through Optimizing the Marketing of Garcinia kola and Irvingia gabonensis in Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The paper examines poverty alleviation through optimizing the marketing of Garcinia kola and Irvingia gabonensis in Ondo State, Nigeria. Data for this study were collected using structured questionnaire. Two categories of pretested structured questionnaires were used to obtain information from the respondents (farmers and the marketers of the species). Data analysis was done using descriptive analysis, and Student t-test was used to compare the income generated by the producers and the marketers of the fruits of the tree species. In addition, analysis of variance (ANOVA), arranged in randomized complete block design, was employed to test the significance of price variable across the three market structures (i.e., farm gate price, rural market price, and urban market price). Marketing of forest fruits species is a profitable enterprise with an average profit of 119,123.37 per marketer per month. The analysis of variance for the two forest fruit species indicated that Irvingia gabonensis generated the highest annual income in rainforest ecosystem while Garcinia kola generated the highest annual income in derived savanna ecosystem. Major constraints militating against these forest fruit species are poor market access and infrastructure development. The paper recommended among other things that domestication and interventions of these forest fruit species should be encouraged for proper management and sustainability.

Economics of Rural Livelihoods: A Case Study of Bitter Kola Marketing in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

“…Socio-economic characteristics of bitter kola marketers: Table 1 shows the socio-economic characteristics of bitter kola marketers in Akwa Ibom State. The Table reveals that the mean age of bitter kola marketers in the study area was 37 years which agrees with [14] who reported that majority of the bitter kola marketers in Nigeria were within the age range of 20-50 years. About 61.7% of the respondents were females and majority of them (58.3%) were married.…”

Farm-level tree growth characteristics, fruit phenotypic variation and market potential assessment of three socio-economically important forest fruit tree species

“…Farmers obtain appreciable income and livelihood support from sale of fruits/seeds of the species. Results from this study as well as Agbelade and Onyekwelu (2013) showed that farmers and/or traders in the study area obtained mean annual income of between 300 and 1300 US$ from sale of C. albidum, I. gabonensis and G. kola fruits/seeds. Ayuk et al (1999a) showed that G. kola nuts harvesting can contribute up to 60 US$ to family annual income in Cameroon, while Franzel et al (1996) and Ayuk et al (1999b) noted that harvest of I. gabonensis fruits and seeds can contribute between 40 and 93 US$ to annual household income, which are very low compared with the figures reported in this study.…”

“…Annual income increased as one moves from farm gate to urban market ( Figure 2). Detailed income generated by farmers and traders from sale of the three species has been presented by Agbelade and Onyekwelu (2013). Most of the traders traded only one of the species, only few traders were engaged in the marketing of the fruits/seeds of more than one species at the same time.…”

Bush Mango (Irvingia spp.) As an Important Alternative Livelihood Source for the Indigenes of the Korup National Park Communities, South West Cameroon

“…This precipitates quick transportation and sale of bush mango during lower prices [13]. Bush mango kernel quantities over the last five years have been increasing [13] and its marketing is a female oriented enterprise with about 90% women involved in the trade [14]. The main determinants of the selling price for bush mango kernels were the cost price of the commodity and transportation cost.…”