Consumption Expenditure and Preferences for Animal Products among Low-Income Households in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria

The consumption expenditure on beef, fish, egg, pork and chicken was investigated using data obtained from randomly selected 80 respondents. It was revealed that, except in the case of fish and beef which had consistent position in the preference ranking, there is no consistency between the households’ consumption preference ranking based on desire and their consumption frequency ranking based on purchasing power. Fish was the most preferred as well as the most frequently consumed by the lowincome households. Educational level, household size, age and monthly income were the major factors through which total expenditure on the selected animal products can be explained. Income elasticity of household expenditure was low (0.121) signifying that increasing household monthly income may be a veritable way of stimulating animal protein consumption among the low income urban dwellers. Furthermore, policies that discourage large family sizes, and sensitization on the importance of animal protein intake will help to increase the animal protein consumption of households

Spatial Price Differential: An Analysis of Soyabeans Marketing in Benue and Enugu States, Nigeria

Spatial price differential not only gives indication of potential profit margin but also a means of assessing the level and direction of market integration. The study examined the spatial price differential in soyabeans marketing in Benue and Enugu States, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from 207 marketers who were randomly selected from four markets each from Benue and Enugu States. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, spatial price differential model, 4-point likert scale, ANOVA, correlation and t-statistics. Results showed that soyabeans marketers were dominated by literate (91.7%), young adult (mean of 39 years) males with a mean annual income of N474,370. Result of spatial price differential showed that while Annune market had positive price spreads for all the 12 months; Aliade market had only one negative price spread in June whereas Daudu had negative price spreads for five months (March, April, May, August and September). The result of ANOVA showed that there was significant difference (F=4.76; P≤ 0.01) in price spreads among the three markets studied. Correlation result showed significant relationship between purchase price (0.68**), transfer cost (-0.708**) and price spreads. The major constraints to soyabeans marketing were low demand, poor road network, low access to credits, high transportation costs, few soyabeans processing companies and heavy imposition of levies and taxes. Positive and negative price spreads indicates ineffiency in soyabeans marketing and these could be occassioned by the above mentioned constraints. Credit facilities should be advanced to marketers in the study area. Again, provision of infrastructural facilities like good roads and storage facilities could increase the efficiency of soyabeans marketing in the study area. Keywords: Soyabeans, Price differential, Price spreads, efficienc