Analysis of Rhizophora Racemosa L Plant Business among Rural Dwellers in Southern Nigeria

Abstract

The study was designed to identify the constraints to Rhizophora Racemosa business among rural dwellers in Southern Nigeria. Sub objectives were to; identify the socio-economic characteristics of traders; ascertain influence of socio economic characteristics and growth of the business and determine the constraints to the business. Structured copies of questionnaire and interview schedule were utilized to elicit information from a sample of sixty (60) respondents. Collected primary data were analyzed using descriptive statistics regression and factor analysis. Results  revealed that elder people above the reproductive age (40%), illiterates (63.6%) and  females (78.2%) dominated the business. There was a direct significant relationship between growth of Rhizophora racemosa and age (t=2.14), education (t=2.07), income (t=2.01) and years of experience (t=2.02).  The processing efficiency of the production of 5 baskets was 1.79 which indicated a profitable business. Identified constraints include, lack of funds and absence of government support also affected the profitability of the business. It was concluded that government  support  in form of loans would increase the level of production.

Keywords: Constraints, Rhizophora racemosa, business, rural dwellers