The role of processors in the improvement and expansion of fruit crop production in the western state of Nigeria ; a case study

• Main Author: Olufokunbi, Banwo
• Other Authors: Hammonds, Timothy
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Fruit trade > Nigeria
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1957/26534

Four assumptions-- 1. That there is an effective and potential demand for processed fruit products in the Western State of Nigeria. 2. That current supply of raw materials in the Western State of Nigeria is more than sufficient to meet the increased demand which the short-term addition or expansion (or both) of market opportunities as provided by processors will stimulate. 3. That farmers could be better-off economically by widening their margin. 4. That while a processing unit may have many objectives, like survival, large size, power and status, the overriding motive of the unit is to try to maximize profit. -- were made in conducting this study which is an attempt to understand the impact a particular processing firm in the Western State of Nigeria has made on farmers in its surrounding, and a postulate of the role such firms could play in the improvement and expansion of fruit crop production, especially in the context of the stage of development Nigeria is today. With orange and pineapple as fruits of emphasis, the field work, done in Nigeria, took 59 days (July 20, 1970, to September 17, 1970); 45 days spent in interviewing farmers, 12 days in watching processing activities of 'Blaize'--the fruit processor; and 2 days taken off in-between. Three major issues examined are 1. The system of farming practiced by the producers--farmers producing for Blaize--particularly the farming changes (if any) induced by the addition or expansion (or both) of market opportunities as provided by the processor--'Blaize'. 2. The organization, activities and program of the processor-buyer (Blaize) as they relate to the purchase of orange and pineapple from Abeokuta area. 3. The kind of relationship which has been established between the processor firm (Blaize) and farmers who supply to it. Findings are: 1. The area of land planted to orange and pineapple in Abeokuta has been increasing over the years. 2. Farmers are responsive to price incentives; and are willing to increase their productivity to take advantage of profit opportunities, but they tend to guard against a long-term curtailment of food production. 3. Farmers earn their most cash-income from farming. 4. Nonfarm activities of the present farmers provide an increasingly smaller resource potential for production increase. 5. Capital, labor, good roads and transport are major constraints on farmers' production in Abeokuta area. 6. Abeokuta farmers diversify, but they grow more crops for domestic market than for export. 7. Land-use in Abeokuta features 9.2 percent devoted to ara-ables, 16.3 percent to tree crops, about 11.6 percent and 15.4 percent devoted to orange and pineapple, respectively; and 60 percent still residual. Average land-size per farm family is 32.7 acres, all scattered on an average of 8.6 plots. 8. Fruit growers in Abeokuta area are market oriented. 9. People in age brackets (26-37) and (37-46), as compared with other age brackets, have the largest amount of land, are more numerous, and are more market oriented. Areas of possible further investigation are: 1. Analysis of consumer demand. 2. The difficulties which may be faced by the expansion of processed fruit products when such will be meant for exports. 3. Promotional measures, and the utilization of by-products of processing plants. 4. Analysis of the existing marketing channels and services. 5. Capacity assessment of any given processor-plant. 6. The determination of the most suitable location of any proposed plant. === Graduation date: 1973