Drivers of Farmers’ Marketable Supply of Pineapple in South East Nigeria

Abstract

Market volume of pineapple has been studied from different angles in the developing countries. However, model identifying the relative significance of household socio-economic and institutional attributes influencing marketable supply of pineapple at household level in South East Nigeria have rarely been estimated. In this study, discrete choice of multinomial logit model was used to estimate the market channel choices. Multistage sampling technique was used and data was collected from 100 small holder pineapple farmers. Data for the study was collected from sampled market outlets in South east Nigeria between May, 2015 and April, 2016. Multiple regression model was used to analyze factors influencing the marketable supply of pineapple in South east Nigeria. The results of this study showed that age of household head, educational level, extension services, family size, marketing distance, access to information and communication technology and need for credit were found to significantly influence volume of pineapple marketed. Therefore the need for credit and rural infrastructure that will enable them add value to pineapple. Access to infrastructure and credit ensure more volume of pineapple marketed as well as higher margins and consequently will be the key in promoting agric business in the study area.