ANALYSIS OF GARRI PROCESSING AND MARKETING AMIDST COVID-19 LOCKDOWN IN OHAUKWU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA. ANALYSIS OF GARRI PROCESSING AND MARKETING AMIDST COVID-19 LOCKDOWN IN OHAUKWU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA.
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Abstract
The study examined Garri processing and marketing amidst covid-19 lockdown in Ohaukwu
local Government Area,Ebonyi State,Nigeria. Sixty(60) respondents were selected through
multistage sampling procedure. Frequency distribution, percentages and gross margin
analysis were used for data analysis.The results revealed that majority of the garri
marketers/processors were females that are still in their economically active age
group,100% of the respondents were aware of the outbreak of Covid-19 and observed the
following precautionary measures during processing;wearing of face mask during peeling
(18.3%), maintaining physical distancing among laborers during processing (18.3%), wearing
face mask during packaging (18.3%), maintaining high hygiene at processing site (18.3%),
people other than laborers are not allowed to the processing site (18.3%). The Rate of
Return on Investment (RRI) of 30% indicates that the respondents earn 30% profit for every
cost associated with garri processing. The benefit cost ratio of 1.30 which implies that for
every ₦1 invested in processing cassava to garri, a return of ₦1.30 and a profit of ₦0.30
were realized and majority of the farmers depends on their personal savings as capital
making their income very low.Majority were wholesalers and most of them sold in market
stall during the outbreak of covid-19. the respondents made more profit during the
lockdown because of inflation in prices of staple food. Therefore processing cassava to garri
is a profitable and viable business and the following were observed as constraints that
militated against the marketing and processing of garri amid Covid-19 lockdown, low
demand/patronage(96.7%),border closure (100.0%),Social distance order increased
processing cost (41.7%), scarcity of laborers because of social distance order (50.0%), lack of
access market (25.0%), absence of buyers from the neighbouring States (100.0%),increased
transport cost (96.7%), and low price (50.0%). It is recommended that Garri marketers and
processors should be encouraged to form and participate in cooperatives, SMEDAN should
organize periodic training for garri marketers,Government agencies should assist in
educating the cassava processing farmers through effective and efficient extension agents
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