Benue State University, Makurdi

Yam Marketing as a Poverty Reduction Strategy in Ukum LGA of Benue State

Christopher O. Obute, Joseph Fefa & Solomon Gbaka

Abstract

This study examines the marketing of yam and poverty reduction in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue state. The study employs a survey design to obtain a cross-sectional data through questionnaire, focused group discussions (FGDs) and oral interviews. Multi-stage and purposive random sampling techniques were used and a sample size of 340 respondents which corresponded with 30.2% of the population of 1,125 yam marketers were selected from seven major yam markets. Only 309 (90.9%) of the questionnaire administered were retrieved. Descriptive statistical tools, Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) Index and Logistic Regression were used to analyze the data for this work. Result showed that apart from providing employment opportunities, yam marketing activity had more than tripped the income oi sampled respondents, which translated into massive reduction in the poverty level of respondents. The study rejected the null hypothesis and concluded that yam marketing has reduced the probability of being poor among the market participants in the study area. Inadequate capital, poor road network, lack of conducive storage facilities, perishable nature of yam product, insecurity, high transportation cost of yam tubers are the major constraints discovered. The study therefore recommended the establishment of a yam processing factory in the study area; formation of cooperatives by yam marketers to access soft loans from the bank and the provision of modern storage facilities by the Benue State Ministry of Agriculture, Makurdi.

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