Cost and Returns Analysis of Okra Marketing in Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria

The studies examined the cost and returns analysis of okra marketing in Ijebu North Local Government Ogun State Nigeria. The socio economic characteristics of the respondents, cost and returns of okra marketing, the profitability of okra marketing and the problems affecting okra marketing in the study area were examined. Well-structured questionnaires were administered for primary data collection to seventy marketers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics while profitability of the enterprise was analysed using Gross Margin analysis (GM). Results showed that all (100%) of the respondents were female, (34.4%) of the respondents were within the age of 30-40 years while 1.4% were within the age of 60 and above. Majority (85.7%) of the farmers had first school leaving certificate and 68.6% were married, 78.6% had household size of 1-5 people, 52.9% of them had been in the business of okra marketing for 1-5 years (71.4%). The total revenue was ₦813,000 and total variable cost was ₦688, 866. 66k while the gross margin was ₦124,133.33 and benefit cost ratio was 1.18. It is therefore, concluded that okra marketing was a profitable agricultural business in the study area. Major constraints in okra marketing were lack of finance and transportation. In the light of the above findings of the this study, it was recommended that government should renovate the roads to the various farms where the marketers source for their stock and provide credit facilities to the marketers to enable them improve their profits.