Ability to Minimize Cost or Maximize Income: Evidence from Women Marketers Participating in Donor-Assisted Programmes in Niger State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The study examined the ability to minimize cost and maximize income among women marketers participating in donor-assisted programmes in Lavun Local Government Area, Niger state. The specific objectives are to describe their demographic characteristics, examine their cost minimization and income maximization, and determine the factors that promote cost minimization or income maximization among the respondents. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select 100 women from three (3) districts (Gaba, Doko and Jima) in the study area. The Primary data were generated through the use of structured questionnaire complemented with scheduled interview. Data collected were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The result of the findings revealed mean age of 38 years, mean farming experience of 12 years, mean household size of 8 people and mean of 10 years of formal schooling. The mean income realized from marketing agricultural produce was ₦90,580.00 while mean cost incurred was ₦77,880.00. However, age p<0.05, household size p<0.01, and years spent in formal schooling p<0.01 influences respondents’ participation in donor-assisted programme, while marital status p<0.05, household size p<0.1 and years spent in formal schooling p<0.01 influences the income of women marketers. Meanwhile, age, marital status, occupation, constraints and sources of information statistically significant at 1%, 5% and 10% probability level were the factors that promote minimize cost and maximize income. Constraints associated with women participation in donor-assisted programme are marketing cost, inaccessibility and gender discrimination. It was therefore recommended that policy makers should come up with policy that will enhance increased income among the women marketers as well as provision of infrastructure that will support effective marketing of agricultural produce.