DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2014.v01i02.009

Pages: 100-104

Fermented cassava flour marketing in Owerri metropolis of Imo State, Nigeria was investigated. Purposive and simple random sampling methods were respectively used to select four markets and 60 respondents from the markets. Data were obtained with copies of well structured questionnaire administered to the respondents via personal interview. Analyses of data were actualized by means of descriptive statistics, Shepherd-Futrell and multiple regression techniques. Profitability analysis gave mean net marketing incomes of N64300 and N4250 and net return of investment values of 0.64 and 0.24 for the wholesalers and retailers respectively. The wholesalers were more efficient than the retailers in the business. Net marketing income was statistically and significantly influenced by gender, marketing cost and household size, while age, marketing experience, educational level and product price were not significant. Problems militating against fermented cassava flour marketing were poor sales, lack of marketing activities such as advertising, poor knowledge of fermented cassava flour, poor and instable price, preference for substitutes like wheat, lack of capital and high transportation cost. Provision of soft loans and subsidization of cost of transportation through government investment in urban mass transit and railway infrastructures will improve income and profit of the marketers.