By: ADEKUNLE M. F.; Bakre A. A.; Egwim R. C.;
Abstract:
This study was carried out to investigate the trade and marketing of Chrysophyllum albidum fruits, an important
Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) in Nigeria. The tree grows as a wild plant and belongs to the family of
Sapotaceae which has up to about 800 species and constitutes almost half of the order. An investigation on the
antioxidant and food value of Chrysophyllum albidum showed the plant contains some phenol, flavonoid,
anthocyanin and proanticyanidin and also a high antioxidant value. This makes the study significant with a view to
creating awareness on the nutritive value of the fruit. Purposive random sampling technique was used. Primary data
were collected through the use of structured and pretested questionnaire administered to the Chrysophyllum albidum
fruits traders in some selected markets in Mushin Local Government Area (L.G.A) of Lagos State. The markets were
Ojuwoye, Kajola, Mushin, Nitel, Under-Bridge, Daleko, Odo-Ashimolowo and Ijesha. The questionnaires (200
copies) were distributed to 25 respondents in each of the selected 8 markets. The data collected included socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents and market variables such as transportation, storage/rent and labour
costs. Other information collected includes selling price, tax and cost price. The analytical techniques employed
include descriptive statistics, budgetary analysis, analysis of cost and returns, profitability ratio and multiple linear
regression analysis. The result showed that 62% of the respondents were retailers and that the trade and marketing
of Chrysophyllum albidum fruits was gender sensitive as 85% of the traders were female. Majority of the
respondents were married (67%) while the modal education status recorded was the primary school leaving
certificate accounting for 53.5% of the total. The analysis of cost and returns indicated that the Gross Profit ranged
from N64260 in Kajola market to N141180 in Ojuwoye market while the Net profit per month ranged from N1830 in
Odo-Ashimolowo market to N82240 in Mushin market. The results of the multiple linear regression showed that
transport cost, rent/storage cost, labour cost, cost of wares and processing cost/market tariff were the major
determinants of selling price of Chrysophyllum albidum fruits in the study area. The marketing efficiencies were
greater than 1 in all the markets and ranged from 5.3% in Kajola market to 67.2% in Odo-ashimolowo market. The
Rate of Return (ROR) ranged from N104 in Kajola market to N157 in Ojuwoye market while the Rate of Return on
Investment (RORI) ranged from 4% in Kajola market to 57% in Ojuwoye market. The study concluded that trade and
marketing of Chrysophyllum albidum fruits is a profitable business, the mass cultivation is therefore advocated in the
study area because of its values in subsistent economy.
Keywords: Chrysophyllum albidum; Marketing; Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs); Cost and returns; Profitability; Marketing Efficiency; Rate of Returns;
Click here to read and download paper