The paper examined variety price premium attributes, spatial and
temporal pricing patterns of cowpeas in Ogun State Nigeria. Monthly
retail cowpea prices were collected over the period of January 1989 to
December 1999, for peu (drum) and sokoto varieties. Four markets
located in four zones were used for the study. Choice of the markets
was based on the volume of cowpea sales and their location from the
state zonal headquarters. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to
process data collected. Retail price in a given month was regressed on
variety, location, season and the covariate, trend. The model had a
good fit, explaining 46 percent of total variation in commodity price.
The estimated parameters of variety dummy, location dummies and the
covariate, trend - were all significant. Six out of the estimated
11parameters of the seasonal dummies were significant while five were
not, thus stratifying seasonal price into low commodity price months
and high commodity price months. Location price difference was
inversely related to distance from the central commodity market, and
the seasonal price difference was attributed to storage technique.
These show imperfect competitive market behaviour. peu/drum with
characteristics of brown colour, rough skin and large grain size had a
price premium than sokoto, which is white, rough skinned and of smaller
grains. Spatial and temporal price differences observed can be reduced
through a better road network, improved storage techniques and adequate
market information. The identified cowpea attributes of large grain,
rough skin and brown colour are recommended attributes in breeding
programmes
