Analysis of Price Variation and Market Integration of <i>Prosopis Africana</i> (guill. & perr.) Taub. Seeds during the wet season in Makurdi metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted to provide information on price variation and market integration of Prosopis africana seed marketing for a period of four months in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State. Nigeria. The study seek to test the hypothesis that there is no significant difference between mean amount of Prosopis africana seeds sold and the Total Variable Cost  (TVC) incurred. Purposive sampling technique was used to select five markets based on the presence of traders selling the commodity in the markets. Ten traders were also selected purposively in each of the markets, giving a sampling size of 50 respondents. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain marketing variables from the traders. Descriptive statistics, Correlation and Gross Margin analysis were used to analyze the objectives of the study. The results shows that more than half of the traders 52% belong to the age bracket of 40-59 years and 60% had no formal education. There was a net positive weekly Gross Margin (GM) in all the markets; North Bank N80,320, Wurukum N72,080, Wadata N62,520, High Level N14,240 and Modern Market N130,510. Wadata and Modern markets were more integrated (0.861) than other market pairs. T- test result showed that Prosopis africana seed trade is profitable and should be encouraged. Since the commodity is harvested in the wild, plantation establishment of the tree species is recommended to ensure sustainability of the resource and trade.

Key words: price, variation, gross margin, Prosopis africana.