Economies of Gum Arabic marketing: A Panacea for Poverty Alleviation in North-Eastern Nigeria

Haliru, Y. U^1*, Ibitoye, S.J.², and Otitolaiye, J. O. ²

¹Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria, PMB 1049, Benin City, Edo State Nigeria.

²Department Agricultural Economic and Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, Kogi State University, Nigeria.

Accepted 20 December 2013

The study analysed the economies of gum arabic marketing in Adamawa, Taraba and Yobe states of Nigeria. Data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire administered on 150 respondents. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicate the mean age of the respondents as 53years, 18 years as the average years of gum arabic marketing experience. Most of them (about 65%) had no formal education. The profitability analysis revealed a total of 626,465.00 kg of gum arabic was sold by the respondents and got total revenue of $ 17,454.65 (N2, 618,197.533). This gives Gross Margin (GM) and Net Profit (NP) per kilogram of gum arabic sold as $0.025 (N 3.74). The changes on the income and expenditure status of the respondents show mean increase in income of $13.22 (N 1983.0) per marketer while their mean expenditure increase was $ 1.59 (N 238.53). This shows that gum Arabic marketing in the study area can serve as a panacea for poverty alleviation when properly harnessed.

Key words: Gum Arabic Marketing, North-Eastern Nigeria, Poverty alleviation.

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