1Uloh, E.V; Ede, A. E.; Onyeke, A.C4Sombu, TDepartment of Agricultural EducationFederal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, Enugu state, Nigeria.
Abstract.
The study focused on the implications of rural road infrastructure on the marketing of agricultural products in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to get a sample of 150 respondents comprising of 75 farmers and 75 agricultural marketers that were randomly selected from the five major communities in the study area. Five objectives were analyzed in the study. It was discovered that women were more involved in farming and agricultural marketing in the study area than men. The majority of the respondents were in their economically active age bracket of 31 – 50 years. 5 different marketing channels are used in the marketing of agricultural products produced in the area. The present nature of road infrastructure in the study area affects the marketing of agricultural products which consequently affects agricultural development in the study area. Problems identified include irregularity of vehicles, high transport costs, and poor/bad road conditions. It was recommended that government and local community-based organizations should provide adequate rural road networks, invest maximally into rural-urban transportation, and that farmers and food marketers should come together to form cooperative societies. It will help to make their voice to be heard and help strengthen the marketing of their farm products.
Keywords: Rural-road infrastructure, Marketing, Marketing channel, Transportation, Agricultural-products.
Get the full content here: Journal