Analysis of Grasshopper (Oedalens senegaensis krauss) Marketing in Sudano Sahelian Region of Nigeria

Abstract

This study determined the gross margin and identified the problems associated with grasshopper marketing in Maiduguri metropolitan council of Borno State, Nigeria. A sample size of fifty (50) was randomly selected out of the population of grasshopper marketers from six markets (Bolori, Wulari, Post-office, Tashan Baga, Terminus and Tashan Bama markets) in Maiduguri metropolitan council. Primary data were obtained through structured questionnaires and analysed for socio-economic characteristics of grasshopper marketers, cost and returns and constraints associated with marketing of grasshopper in the study area. Gross Margin analysis was used to measure profit (or loss) of grasshopper marketing in the study area. Majority of the grasshopper marketers in the study area are in their youthful age and wholesalers and retailers constitute 83.9 and 75.5 %, respectively with age range of 15-45 years. Women were found to be more active in grasshopper marketing than men were, more than half of the wholesalers and retailers were found to be women (78% and 71%, respectively). The marital status of respondents indicated that majority were married with 80.6 and 79.6% for wholesalers and retailers, respectively. Only about 42.0% and 51.0% of wholesalers and retailers attended Tertiary school. The implication of this result is that the adoption of new technology is slow. In addition, findings from the study showed that 51.6 and 40.8 % of wholesalers and retailers, respectively were engaged in agroforestry practices. The gross margin per 50 kilograms (kg) of grasshopper sold by wholesalers and retailers was N5750 and N4150 with a marketing margin of 22.3 and 19.71%, respectively. In spite of the problems the marketers encountered such as poor transportation, inadequate storage facilities, and poor quality of grasshopper among others, profits made by wholesalers and retailers were positive, however, retailers realized higher profits than wholesalers.