ABSTRACT
Weaning foods are the main sources of daily food to majority of infants growing up in Nigeria and weaning is a natural and inevitable stage in every child’s development. The type of weaning food given to infants and the adequate marketing of these weaning foods are very crucial. It is on this background that this study assessed the marketing of locally produced weaning foods in Enugu and Benue States, Nigeria with a view to improving local weaning foods marketing in the study area. Data for the study were collected using structured questionnaire administered to 420 (Enugu-220 and Benue-200) marketers sampled from the study area using multi-stage sampling procedure. However, 391(Enugu-207 and Benue-184) copies of the questionnaire were found useful for data analysis. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, marketing margin analysis, Herfindahl Hirschman index, Gini coefficient, profitability analysis, relative importance index, multinomial logistic(MNL) model and Likert scale. Findings of the study showed female dominance, mean age of 42years and 47years in Enugu and Benue States respectively. Most of the marketers were married, literate with main occupation as trading and a mean marketing experience of 9years and 10 years for Enugu and Benue States respectively. The dominant locally produced weaning foods identified in Enugu State were akamu oka (maize thin gruel), akamu okiri(guinea corn thin gruel) and agidi (white maize thick gruel) while in Benue State, akamu okiri(guinea corn thin gruel), akamu joro(millet thin gruel) and soya bean gruel were identified. The local weaning foods moved through several marketing chains comprising of producers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers. The marketing margins for producers (retailers) of agidi, akamu-oka and akamu-okiri were 52%( 20%), 39%( 23.4%) and 30%( 23.7%) in Enugu State while in Benue State, producers (retailers) had marketing margin of 44%(20%), 40%(22%) and 39% for akamu-okiri, akamu-joro and soya bean gruel respectively. The marketing system was characterized with few sellers and many buyers, free entry and exit indicative of oligopolistic competition. Akamu oka, akamu okiri, agidi, akamu joro and soya bean gruel had a Gini coefficient of 0.42, 0.49, 0.38, 0.38 and 0.17 respectively that was further supported with estimated HHI values of 43.710, 45.166, 697.338, 250.863 and 242.787 respectively indicating some level of market concentration. Local weaning food marketing was profitable with returns of N0.31(N0.27), N0.44(N0.23) and N0.76(N0.21) per naira invested for producers(retailers) of akamu okiri, akamu oka and agidi in Enugu State while in Benue State, the producers(retailers) had returns of N0.38(N0.15), N0.37(N0.21) and N0.38 for akamu okiri, akamu joro and soya bean gruel respectively. The marketing system was relatively efficient with efficiency ratios of 3.69(7.97), 3.40(3.85) and 5.10(6.08) for producers(retailers) of akamu okiri, akamu oka and agidi in Enugu State while in Benue State, the producers(retailers) had efficiency ratios of 1.72 (2.03), 2.02(3.51) and 2.37 for akamu okiri, akamu joro and soya bean gruel respectively. Factors influencing the buying decisions of local weaning foods were affordable price, ease of preparation, high acceptance by child, readily available and ease of storage. Selling price, total revenue, educational level and years of marketing experience were the factors that affected the marketers’ choice of local weaning foods marketed. The major constraints marketers faced were high cost of transportation, high market charges and inadequate processing facilities. It was recommended that since the marketing system is relatively efficient and viable, marketers should increase their investment for a better volume of trade and new entrants should be encouraged to invest in this venture.
