Gender Differentials in Performance of Palm Oil Marketers in Abia State, Nigeria Authors

The study examined the gender differentials in performance of palm oil marketers in Abia State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the socio-economic characteristics of the male and female palm oil marketer; determined the marketing performance with respect to net returns, marketing margin and marketing efficiency, estimated the determinants of marketing performance; analyzed the impact of gender on the performance and identified the problems faced by the palm oil marketers in the study area. A multistage random sampling techniques were used to select 80 palm oil marketers (comprising of 40 males and 40 females). Primary data was collected with the aid of structured questionnaire and analyzed using net returns analysis, marketing margin, marketing efficiency index, OLS regression and Z-test. The result indicates the mean ages were 48 and 51 years for both male and female respectively, majority of the respondents were married with mean household of 6. The average net return realized was N 156,052.70 and N 165,242.37 with marketing margin of N4350 and N4550 for male and female marketers. The marketers received N23.3k (male) and N22.70K (female) for every N1 invested into the business. The coefficient of age and quantity sold were positive while storage cost and distance to market were negative factors that influence the marketing performance of male oil palm marketers in the study area. Also the coefficient of education, market levies and marketing experience were positive while storage cost and distance to market were negative factors that influence the marketing performance of female oil palm marketers in the study area. The Z-test showed that gender has a significant effect on the performance. The major constraint were damage due to animal and theft, poor access road and lack of credit facilities. It was therefore recommended that variables such as age, education, quantity, experience, storage cost and levies should be taken into consideration while formulating policies on palm oil marketing market so as to further enhance the profitability of the business and also need for government to invest in human capital, educate/create awareness on the benefits of product marketing.