Analysis of profitability and poverty reduction of yoghurt processing industries in Maiduguri Metropolitan area of Borno state, Nigeria

The study assessed the profitability of yoghurt processing with a view of determining its potentials for reducing poverty in Maiduguri Metropolitan Area. Data were collected from a survey of 10 yoghurt processing firms in Maiduguri and analysed using profit model and descriptive statistics. Results revealed that yoghurt proprietors in the study area were mostly males (70%) who were in their active age group of 36-45 years. Profitability analysis revealed that yoghurt processing was profitable with mean profit value of N9,612.47k per 25kg of milk processed, and that it reduces the poverty level as it provides employment opportunities for 5 persons per firm as at he time of the study.Keywords: Profitability, poverty reduction, yoghurt, processing, employmen

Profit Efficiency and Sources of Inefficiency of Small-holder Ram Fattening Enterprise in Borno State, Nigeria

This examine the profit efficiency and its determinants in ram fattening farms of Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria, using the stochastic profit function analysis. Primary data were used for this study which was collected using the interview method. The data collected include those on the socio-economic variables of the ram fatteners, the cost of inputs used and price of output produced. The result revealed mean profit efficiency of 0.82, implying that there exists the scope of increasing efficiency by about 18%. The main variables contributing to inefficiency were household size, and educational qualification. The study recommends that the state governmentshould provide feed subsidy and formal loan to the fatteners in the study area in an effort to alleviate the endemic poverty in the state. Also, training and extension services should be provided to the fatteners to further improve their efficiency

AN ANALYSIS OF THE MARKETING OF ONION IN MONGUNO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

This paper determined the profitability, marketing channel and marketing efficiency of onion marketing in Monguno Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Data were collected using well-structured questionnaires from 45 respondents selected using random sampling technique. The market analyses were done using descriptive statistics, gross margin, marketing margin and market efficiency formulae. The study revealed that onion marketing was profitable. The with a gross margin of N 2,888.00 and N 3,130.00 for wholesalers and retailers return on naira invested was 0.32% for wholesaler and 0.34% for retailer, which when compared to the cost of capital in the economy, showed that the marketers can generate enough capital to meet the obligation of repaying any loan could borrow in the course of their marketing activities. The marketing margin obtained was 32% for wholesalers and 33.3% for retailers. The marketing efficiency was 42% and 44.8% for wholesalers and retailers respectively. The problems of onion marketing in the study area include inadequate storage facilities, lack of adequate transport facilities, and lack of capital which affect the profits realized by the marketers. It was recommended that transport facilities should be provided marketing loans and credit made available to marketers and adequate and conventional storage facilities made available in the market by the government to prevent spoilages. Keywords: onion, gross-margin, marketing margin, marketing efficiency