Abstract

The study examined the economics of wheat marketing in Maiduguri Metropolis of Borno state. Primary data were collected using well structured questionnaires administered to randomly selected wheat marketers in two major wheat markets in the metropolis. Descriptive statistics, gross margin and marketing efficiency analytical techniques were used to analyze the data generated by the study. The study revealed that wheat marketing channel in the study area is centralized. The study also revealed that the marketers are males mostly of ages between 30-50 years with moderate level of education but with high marketing experience. Wheat marketing in the study area was found to be profitable with a gross margin of N1,520 per 50kg bag of wheat and high pricing and operational efficiency of 1.32%. The constraints of wheat marketing enumerated by the respondents included high transport cost; lack of access to capital; activities of middlemen and inadequate storage facilities. To improve the profitability and ease of marketing of wheat in the study area, the study recommended that government should provide adequate transport facilities, build silos, warehouses and other storage facilities to store produce to cater for lean periods and ultimately reducing the exploitative activities of the middlemen. Also, wheat marketers should be provided with loans and credit facilities to enjoy the economics of large scale marketing