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EFFECT OF CLIMATIC AND ECONOMIC FACTORS ON PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF GOATS IN SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA


J.C. Onwumere

Abstract

The study analyzed the climatic and economic factors affecting goat production and marketing in South East
Nigeria. A total of 360 respondents were selected from South East (Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu States) Nigeria. Data
were elicited from primary source using structured and pretested questionnaire to collect data on goat production
and marketing. Method of data analysis involved the use of descriptive (tables, mean, frequency, Gini coefficient)
and inferential statistics (multiple regression). The result obtained showed that majority (64%) of the
agripreneurs operated on a small-scale with flock size ranging between 5-10 goats. The average number of goats
sold was four indicating that goat marketing is at micro-scale in the area. Many (37.54%) of the agripreneurs
engage in extensive goat production system. The result further showed that out of 341 respondents interviewed,
227 (66.57%) marketers were in agreement that there is no barrier to goat market entry and exit, while the Gini
coefficient was0.5,indicating presence of average competition in goat marketing. The clustered mean of 3.41
implies that climate change element is a limitation to goat husbandry practice in South East Nigeria. The
significant factors for production function include: feed, stock density, capital and medication. The study
revealed that climatic and economic factors affect the productivity and marketing of goat in South East Nigeria.
The study recommends that goat farmers should adopt intensive system of goat production and take advantage of
different sources of finance, production and market information provided by the government and nongovernmental
organizations for enhanced productivity.


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print ISSN: 0300-368X