DETERMINANTS TO CHOICE OF MODE OF ROAD TRANSPORTATION BY RICE MARKETERS IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

The study examined study examined the determinant to choice of mode of road transportation by rice marketers in Anambra State Nigeria. Multistage random sampling was used to select 120 respondents. Structured questionnaire and oral interview were used data and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression. The results showed that 43.3% of the rice marketers fell within the age bracket of 41-50 years, while 37.5%, 10.84% and 8.33% were within the age of 31-40, 21-30 and 50 and above years respectively. The results also revealed that the modes of transportation in the study area preferred by the respondents were motor cycle (88.33%), tricycle, truck (71.14%), head porterage (54.2%) and taxi (51.67%). The results further showed that the factors that influence choice of transportation for marketing of rice were fatigue and sick to marketers (81.67%), perishability and decay of produce (77.5%), price fluctuation of produce (76.67%), loss of produce due to road accident (75%), delay supply of produce (71.67%), reduction in market value of produce (68.33), reduces the quality of agricultural produce (66.67%) and damage to agricultural produce (65%). the results logistic regression revealed that educational level and marketing experience were positive and significance in influencing the choice of mode of transportation among rice marketers in the study area. The results also revealed bad road network (93.33%), high-cost transportation (83.33%), frequent accidents (76.67%), taxations (76.67%), inadequate roads (51.6%) and poor road maintenance (50%) were the constraints to the choice of mode of road transportation in the study area. In conclusion, the choice of mode of road transportation on marketing were influenced by delay in transporting produce to the market, fatigue and sick to marketers The need to enhance farmers access to educational programmes and training, encourage farmers to form or join organization and to encourage experienced or newcomers’ marketers to remain in the business through addressing their constraints.