ABSTRACT:

This paper examined the marketing channels and analysed the marketing margins of locally produced weaning foods marketed in Benue State, Nigeria. Data used for the study were collected from a cross- sectional survey of 18 markets through the use of a structured questionnaire. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 184 respondents for the study. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and marketing margin analysis. The identified dominant local weaning foods marketed in the study area were akamu okiri (guinea corn gruel), akamu joro (millet gruel) and soyabean gruel. These local weaning foods moved through different distribution channels of marketing intermediaries comprising of producers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers. Based on the results of the marketing margin analysis, the wholesalers of akamu okiri had the highest marketing margin of 44% followed by that of akamu joro and soyabean gruel which were 40% and 39% respectively. While for retailers, akamu okiri and akamu joro had marketing margin of 20% and 22% respectively Apriori expectation was met as wholesalers generally earn more of the marketing margin than the other marketing intermediaries. The components of the marketing margin were identified to be mark-up, transportation cost, storage cost, processing cost and market charges with the mark-up accounting for a large proportion of the marketing margin followed by transportation cost. The study therefore recommends that adequate and improved processing and storage facilities should be put in place to reduce the margins and improve the marketing of local weaning foods in the study area. Also, efforts should be made by the marketers to reduce mark-up as these contribute significantly to the marketing margins.