ABSTRACT
The
broad objective of the study was to analyse Raphia palm wine (RPW) marketing in
South-South Nigeria (SSN). The specific objectives were to: (i) analyse the
productivity of resources used in RPW production; (ii) analyse the determinants
of technical efficiency of tappers; ( iii) analyse the structure of RPW market
in the area; (iv) describe the marketing channels and distribution of RPW; (v) estimate
the level and determinants of profit in RPW tapping and marketing (vi) estimate
the level of market integration for the product; and (vii) identify the
constraints faced by RPW tappers, marketers and consumers in the study area.
The study was conducted in South-South Nigeria (SSN) using the survey method.
Multistage random sampling technique was used in selecting three states
(Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers) out of the six states (Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross
River, Delta, Edo and Rivers States) that make up South-South Nigeria. Two
markets were randomly selected from each of two local government areas randomly
selected from each state, after which a total of 10 RPW tappers, marketers and
consumers, respectively, were randomly selected from each market to give a
sample size of 120 RPW tappers, marketers and consumers, respectively. Total
sample size was therefore 360. Three sets of pre-tested structured
questionnaires were administered to the respondents according to their
categories using trained enumerators to obtain primary data that were used to
realise the objectives of the research. Furthermore, four-day local market
prices for RPW in selected markets in the states were collected for a period of
six months starting from September, 2012 to February, 2013 and these were used
to determine the integration of RPW markets in the study areas. Data were
analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, such as,
stochastic frontier production function, Gini Coefficient, Gross margin
analysis, multiple regression analysis and market integration function.
Sixty-six percent of the tappers were married. They were all males (100%) and a
good number of them (50%) were in their productive ages of 30-49 years with as
many as 74% of them without formal education. A large proportion (92%) of the
marketers were married with a large number (66%) of them being females and 66%
also were in the age bracket of 30-49 years, with as many as 97% of them having
little or no formal education. The consumers were made up of married (58%),
males (72%) of which only 42% were in the age group of 30-49 years with a high
percentage (84%) of them not exceeding primary school education. Number of
Raphia palm stands, variety of palm stands, family labour, hired labour and
years of tapping experience were statistically significant (p>0.01) in
relation to RPW output even though there was a record of inefficiency in the
productivity of resources (gamma = 1). The test of marginal effect after
frontier showed a 7% and 21% increase in RPW output for every additional unit
of hybrid Raphia palm tree and palm stand tapped, respectively. However, the
marginal effect of tapping duration was negative, causing a 9% reduction for
every additional day of tapping. There existed a positive correlation among the
degree of tappers’ inefficiency and their age (0.0224) and years of tapping
experience (0.0130). Access to market information (-0.0123), household size
(-0.0720), level of education (-0.0004) and access to credit ( -0.0020)
exhibited negative correlations with the tappers’ degree of inefficiency. RPW
market was profitable at both the tappers’ and marketers’ levels, concentrated
and with complex distribution channels. Raphia palm wine markets in the three
states were integrated. Both tappers and marketers of RPW in the study area
faced such very serious problems as poor/lack of access to formal credit
facilities, inadequate finance for business expansion and low shelf life of
RPW. Consumers faced very serious problems of high transportation cost, adulteration
of RPW by retailers and low shelf-life of the wine.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background Information
Beverages are essential part of human diet because of their liquid
content (Edmund, 1952). From earliest time, man has sought for drinks which are
palatable and refreshing. Two categories may readily be recognised:
non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. Ordinary beverages that do not contain
alcohol are commonly referred to as soft drinks (Batchelor & Webber, 1948).
These include a great variety of preparations. They nearly all have high sugar
content and so are good sources of energy. The United States is the outstanding
consumer of soft drinks, using an estimated 50 000 000 bottles a day (Edmund,
1952; WHO, 2004). Fruit juices are the simplest kind of soft drinks, consisting
of the extracted juice alone, or with sugar and water added. The most familiar
types of fruit drinks are lemonades and orangeade. Others include orange juice,
grapefruit juice, tomato juice, pineapple juice and palm wine. Raphia palm wine
(RPW) is one of the most important and also one of the oldest fermented
beverages drunk throughout West Africa (Edmund, 1952; Otedoh 1972; Jeffrey,
1975; Akinrele, 1976; Otedoh, 1987; WHO, 2004). The World Health Organization
(WHO) refers to it as a traditional alcoholic beverage widely consumed by about
two billion people worldwide (WHO, 2004). The organisation further clarified
that, the RPW was outside the western beer, wine and spirit categories and also
outside the control of local governments. Nigeria is among the top 30 positions
of adult per capita consumption of fermented wine beverages. The largest
drinkers are the wine producing countries of Europe, followed by Uganda,
Nigeria, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, and Sao Tome (WHO, 2004). Presently,
Raphia Palm is among the mandate crops of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm
Research, (NIFOR). The Institute has the mandate to research into the biology,
production, and utilization of the crop. A lot of land mark achievements have
been made in this direction, notable of which is the preservation of the fresh
RPW through bottling to up to 12 calendar months.
This is very important because it would encourage the inhabitants of the
growing regions to appreciate this natural resource and invest in its
cultivation.
Raphia palm (RP) is found from Gambia through the Guinea forest zone of
West Africa to Cameroon, Gabon and Congo and possibly to Angola. It is
occasionally cultivated, e.g. in Nigeria. Outside Africa, it is grown in
India, Freetown Peninsular, Malaysia and Singapore (Mann & Wendl,
2009). There are many species of the RP and they all belong to the family Palmea.
Twenty species of the palm have been identified in Africa. They are R. Realis,
R. Australis, R. Ruwenzoriea, R. Gentiliana, R.
Textilis, R. Malombe, R. Hookeri, R. Rostrate, R.
Palma-pinus, R. Monbullorum, R. Vinifera, R. Taedigera,
R.laurentii, R.africana, R. Mannii, R. Longiflora,
R. Mambillensis, R. Farinifera, R. Sudanica and R. Sese.
Otedoh (1976) identified eight of the 20 mentioned species of the RP to be
indigenous to Nigeria. They are; R.farinifera, R. africana,
R. Longiflora, R. Regalis, R.vinifera, R. Mambillensis,
R. Hookeri and R. Sudenica. Of these eight species of Raphia
identified as indigenous to Nigeria, R. hookeri is the most
dominant tree crop within the coastal fresh water swamps (Ndon, 2003). Three
varieties of Raphia hookeri have been distinguished: R.hookeri
var. hookeri, Raphia hookeri var. Rubrifolia Otedoh, and
Raphia hookeri var. Planifolia Otedoh. Locally, different forms
of Raphia hookeri are recognised. In Nigeria, RP grows naturally
and abundantly in the South-South. This area is characterised by rain forest,
fresh water swamps, lakes and other wet places. It also contains the bulk of
proven oil reserves in Nigeria. The oil reserves in Nigeria make it one of the
largest producers of oil in the world (Onakuse & Eamon, 2007). The
inhabitants of this region are found in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta,
Edo and Rivers States. They depend on fish and other mangrove resources for
their livelihoods, including Raphia palm...
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