Analysis of Head Cabbage Market Performance in Kofele and Kore Districts, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study analyzed market performance of head cabbage in Kofale and Kore districts with the objective of identifying actors involved in head cabbage markets and examining market performance of head cabbage. A two-stage sampling procedure was used to select sample households. A total of 120 head cabbage producers, 50 traders and 50 consumers were randomly selected and interviewed using structure questionnaires and checklist. The descriptive statistics and market margin model were applied to analyze head cabbage market performance. The result of the study shows that farmers used three market outlet to sell their product. These are collectors, wholesalers and consumers. However, they earn low/little market margins from the large volume of head cabbage they sold to collectors and wholesaler compare to consumers. This is due to brokers who have the power to determine prices paid by the traders and thus extract huge marketing margins.   Therefore, this study suggests that it shall be better to improve the farmers’ market margins from collectors and wholesalers by strengthening farmers-traders linkage through reducing brokers’ exploitation and solving related production and marketing problems in the study area.

Keywords: Actors, Head Cabbage, Market Margin, Market Performance, Kofele, Kore