ABSTRACT:

This paper examined the factors influencing the choice of locally produced weaning foods marketers in Enugu 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 multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 207 respondents for the study. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Multinomial Logit (MNL). Results of the study showed that akamu-oka (maize thin gruel), akamu-okiri (guinea corn thin gruel) and agidi (maize thick gruel) were the dorminant local weaning foods while selling price, total revenue, years of marketing experience and levels of education were the factors that affected the choice of these local weaning foods marketed. However, selling price and total revenue were the major factors. In other words, the results of the multinomial logit indicated that the higher the total revenue, the higher the odds of marketing local weaning foods while the higher the selling price, the lower the odds of the marketer which means that total revenue had a positive significant effect while selling price had a negative significant effect on the choice of a marketer choosing among the local weaning foods. Therefore, reduction in selling price and increase in total revenue are highly recommended.