TRADITIONAL AND MODERN GROUNDNUT PROCESSING AND MARKETING IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA

TRADITIONAL AND MODERN GROUNDNUT PROCESSING AND MARKETING IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The study evaluated the traditional and modern groundnut processing and marketing in North Central Nigeria. The focus was on groundnut oil processing and marketing systems; input use efficiency in production and factors that made for efficiency; profitability of the processing activity and factors that determined profitability; examination of value added by processing; integration of markets for the processed products and problems of the industry. A total of 175 traditional processors were selected and 17 small-Scale modern processors covered from Nasarawa, Benue and Niger States. Pre-tested, structured questionnaires and observations were used as instruments of data collection. Types of data collected were those on socio-economic characteristics of processors, groundnut procurement, processing, and ground nut oil (GNO) and groundnut cake (GNC) marketing. Weekly price series for GNO and GNC were also collected at various markets within the region. Data analyses were attained by use of descriptive and inferential statistics, stochastic frontier analysis (SFA), profit function analysis, t-test statistic and Johansen test for co-integration. Hypotheses were also tested appropriately. The average age of traditional processors in North Central Nigeria was 38 years and 41years for modern processors. Ninety-four percent of the traditional processors were women while 88% of modern processors were men. Majority of the processors did not participate in co-operative activities. Sixty percent of groundnut processed by traditional processors came from farmers while 94% of groundnut processed by modern processors was obtained from traders. The maximum likelihood result for traditional processors indicated the presence of inefficiency. Raw groundnut variable was significant at 1% level of significance (LOS) in Nasarawa and Niger States. Fuel-wood and salt were both significant at 1% LOS in Nasarawa and Benue States. In the inefficiency aspects, age and years of experience were significant at 1% LOS in all the states. For the zone, labour and salt were significant at 1% LOS; fuel-wood 5% and raw groundnut 10% LOS. In the inefficiency aspect for the zone, household size was significant at 5% LOS, while level of education was significant at 10% level of probability. Raw groundnut and labour were significant in modern processing, while education and experience at 10% in the inefficiency aspect. Most of the traditional processors had their efficiency scores above 0.80 and modern processors were from 0.47. In the profit function results for traditional processors, fuel-wood and packaging variables were significant at 1% LOS. Raw groundnut, procurement and maintenance were significant at 1% in modern processing. Value added was 41% for traditional processors and 44% for modern processors. There was significant difference in the value of groundnut before and value after processing. The Johansen trace test result indicated five co-integration vectors at 5% level of probability for GNO and two co-integration equations for GNC. The markets for GNO and GNC were not fully integrated. Administrative regulations affected market integration for GNO which was significant at 5% LOS. Constraints identified included inadequate finance, inadequate electricity, machine breakdown and transportation. Recommendations made included improved packaging, finance, electricity supply and co-operative education.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 Content                                                                                                                                   Page

Cover page

Title page                                                                                                                                    i

Certification                                                                                                                                ii

Dedication                                                                                                                                   iii

Acknowledgement                                                                                                                      iv

Abstract                                                                                                                                      v

Table of contents                                                                                                                       vi

List of tables                                                                                                                              x

List of figures                                                                                                                            xii                                                                                                                                                        

 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION                                                                                   

1.1 Background of the study                                                                                                   1

1.2 Statement of the problem                                                                                                   6

1.3 Objectives of the study                                                                                                      9

1.4 Hypotheses                                                                                                                        10

1.5 Justification                                                                                                                       10

1.6 Limitation of the Study                                                                                                     12

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 

2.1 Groundnut Processing Technologies and Systems                                                            13

2.1.1 The traditional and modern methods of groundnut oil extraction in Nigeria                 15

2.1.2 Capital ownership and organizational structures of agricultural processing                  17

2.2 Marketing of Finished Products                                                                                         18

2.2.1 Marketing strategies for agro-industrial products                                                           21

2.2.2 Market demand for agro-industrial products                                                                  22

2.3 Profitability Measures and Value addition                                                                        24

2.3.1 Profitability analysis                                                                                                       26

2.3.2 The value adding process in agriculture                                                                         27

2.4 Input Use and Efficiency                                                                                                  29

2.4.1 Efficiency measurement                                                                                                 30

2.5 Market Integration                                                                                                            34

2.5.1 Market integration and the law of one price (LOP)                                                       35

2.5.1.1 Stochastic Process and the Unit Root Problem                                                           36

2.5.1.2 Co-integration                                                                                                              38

2.5.1.3 Co-integration and Error correction Mechanism (ECM)                                             39

2.5.1.4 The Johansen Trace test                                                                                               39

2.6 Problems of Agricultural Processing Industry                                                                   40

2.7Theoretical Framework                                                                                                        41

2.7.1 Value chain in Agricultural Processing and marketing                                                   44

2.8 Analytical Framework                                                                                                        47

2.8.1 Stochastic frontier production function                                                                           47

2.8.2 Profitability analysis                                                                                                        51

2.8.3 Measurement of co-integration and the law of one price (LOP)                                    52

2.8.3.1 The unit root problem                                                                                                  53

2.8.3.2 Unit root test                                                                                                                54

2.8.3.3 Co-integration: The Johansen test                                                                                56                    2.8.3.4 Determinants of co-integration                                                                                       58

 CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

3.1 Study area                                                                                                                          59

3.2 Sampling technique                                                                                                            60

3.3 Data collection                                                                                                                   61

3.4 Data Analysis                                                                                                                     62

3.4.1. Stochastic Frontier Model                                                                                              62

3.4.2 Profit Function Analysis                                                                                                 65

3.4.3 Value addition model                                                                                                      66

3.4.3 Johansen trace test                                                                                                          67

3.4.3.1Determinants of co-integration                                                                                     67

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

   4.1 Socio-economic Characteristics of Small-scale traditional and modern Groundnut                 Processors in Northern Central Nigeria                                                                          69

4.1.1 Age distribution of groundnut oil processors                                                                  69

4.1.2 Gender distribution of the processors                                                                             70

4.1.3 Marital status                                                                                                                   71

4.1.4 Household size                                                                                                                71

4.1.5 Educational level of processors                                                                                      72

4.1.6 Cooperative participation                                                                                                 72

4.1.7 Years of experience                                                                                                          73

4.2 Groundnut Oil Production, Marketing, and the Value Chain in the Study Area                75

4.2.1 Procurement                                                                                                                     77

4.2.2Traditional groundnut oil production method                                                                   79

4.2.3 Modern groundnut oil production method                                                                       80

4.2.4 Marketing                                                                                                                         82

4.3. Input Use Efficiency in Traditional and Modern Groundnut Oil Production in North            Central Nigeria                                                                                                                86

4.3.1Technical efficiency estimates for groundnut oil producers in North Central Nigeria     89

  1. 4. The Profitability Analysis of Traditional and Small-scale Modern Processing and Marketing of GNO and GNC                                                                                          94

4.4.1 Gross margin results of groundnut processing                                                                 94

4.4.2 Determinants of profitability of groundnut processing in North Central Nigeria            97

4.5 Value Added by Processing Groundnut into GNC and GNC                                             100

4.5.1Test of significance of value added                                                                                   102

4.6 Level of Integration of Markets Groundnut oil (GNO) and Groundnut cake (GNC)         103

4.6.1 Result of the unit root test                                                                                                104

4.6.2 Result of the Johansen test for co-integration                                                                  105

4.6.3 Determinants of market integration                                                                                 107

  1. 7 Constraints Facing the Groundnut Processing Industry                                                   109

4.7.1 Identified constraints                                                                                                        109

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Summary                                                                                                                             113

5.2 Conclusion                                                                                                                           118

5.3 Recommendations                                                                                                               119

5.4 Addition to knowledge                                                                                                        120

5.5 Areas needing further research                                                                                            121

REFERENCES                                                                                                                          123

 

APPENDIX A                                                                                                                            131

APPENDIX B                                                                                                                             141

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Processing, storage and marketing of agricultural produce have become increasingly important to the economies of most developing countries, as they have been to industrialized nations at various stages of their development. Due to technical progress, marketable surpluses from agricultural production have grown significantly; while rapid growth in urban populations and rising per capita incomes have enlarged and diversified the demand for processed agricultural products, whether food or raw materials for industries. Perhaps Processing is one of the most important physical functions of agricultural marketing. Olayide & Heady (1982) opined that processing was an important component of agribusiness development, because a large portion of farm production underwent some degree of change between harvesting and final use. More so agro-processing is capable of strongly shaping farm production decisions. It enables quality enhancement, preservation and differentiation of farm production thereby enhancing its marketability. It has also been noted that Agricultural processing activities are small-scale and require low investment capital, hence can easily be undertaken by women (Fellows & Hampton, 1997; RMRDC, 2004; Kadurumba, Kadurumba & Umeh, 2009; FAO, 2011).

Farm products’ processing play a significant role in the economies of developing countries, where it accounts for between 51% and 60% of value added by manufacturing and between 60% and 70% of total industrial development. Over half of the manufacturing activities in the developing countries of the world consist of agro-industries preserving and transforming agricultural raw materials (Olayide & Heady, 1982; Brown, 1986). FAO (2012) observed that increased urbanization, distance between home and work-place, working women and changes in family cohesion has increased demand for shelf-stable, convenience and value added food.

Agricultural processing facilities have a strong impact of stimulating consumer demands backward to the farm sector, to keep pace with demand for raw materials supply for processing. Based on farm products, agricultural processing schemes can be sited in areas where other industries will not be viable, as they are more intensive users of domestic rather than imported raw materials due to their local availability (Brown, 1986; Austin, 1992; Brown, Deloitte & Touche, 1994). More importantly, the gains of increased agricultural production through technical progress will be lost if it is not consolidated through the development of economically viable processing sector. So also the skills developed through planning and implementation of agricultural processing and preservation will strengthen stakeholders’ entrepreneurial attributes, thereby enhancing their economic empowerment (FAO, 2011). As a means of mitigating problem of food shortage, FAO (2012) among other issues emphasized adding value or improving the food agro- processing for consumption and the market.

An efficient marketing system connects producers and consumers, directs efficient allocation of resources in production and distribution of output, while ensuring maximum economic benefits to participants. Conceptually, agricultural processing which is a segment in agricultural marketing, involves the transformation of raw materials to the forms required by the consumer or for the next stage in a manufacturing and distribution chain (Olukosi & Isitor, 1990; Boland, 2009).This entails transforming and preserving agricultural output, through physical and/ or chemical alteration. FAO (2011) defined food processing and preservation as a set of physical, chemical and biological processes that are performed to prolong shelf-life of foods, and at the same time retain the features that determine the quality, such as colour, texture, flavour and especially its nutritional value. Austin (1992) also viewed agricultural processing industry as any enterprise that is involved in the processing of materials of plant or animal origin, which he also described as agro-industry. In the World Bank development activities, the term “agro-industry” covered agro-industrial processes such as grain milling, fruit and vegetable canning, oil seeds crushing, and meat packaging as well as the function of marketing(Brown,1986). Hence it was touted that starting a small rice mill or an oil press marked an early stage in the first steps on the road to industrialization. The nature of processing and level of transformation can vary tremendously ranging from cleaning, grading and boxing fruits and milling to oil extraction, mixing and chemical alteration(Austin,1992), (Table 1.1).

 

Groundnut (Arachis hypogea) is known to the Hausas as ‘Gyadda’, to the Ibos as ‘Opapa’, the Yorubas as ‘Epa,’ the Americans as peanuts, and the French as arachides. It is a leguminous crop grown all over the world as an important oil seed crop native to South America. Groundnut is thought to have been introduced to West Africa early in the slave trade by the Portuguese, mainly to supplement the diet of slaves in transit. Its spread into the interior of West Africa was rapid in the eighteenth century. By 1850s it was common in parts of Hausa land of Nigeria and thought to be as important as potatoes in Europe by a British traveler (Hogendorn, 1978). Groundnut is a short herbaceous annual crop that produces its pods inside the soil, (figure 1.1).

 
Plate 1.1 : Peanut (Arachis hypogea) plant

 

Source : Wikipedia (2010)

 

 

Historically, the Sudan and northern guinea savanna of Nigeria have been the high producing zones. However, the development of several varieties by the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has led to even higher output in the southern guinea savannah zone, covering the North Central States of Nigeria (RMRDC, 2004). Nigeria was third among the world ten highest producers of groundnut with 3, 835,600 tonnes (unshelled) after China and India in 2007/2008 output year (USDA, 2010), but now fourth with 1.55million metric tonnes (shelled) in the 2008/2009 output season (USDA, 2010), ( Table 1. 2).

Table 1. 2: Top ten world producers of peanuts – 2008/2009
 

Country

 

Production (Million Metric Tonnes)

 

People’s Republic of China

 

14.30

 India                                    6.25
 United States                                    2.34
 Nigeria                                    1.55
 Indonesia                                    1.25
 Myanmar                                    1.00
 Sudan                                    0.85
 Senegal                                    0.71
 Argentina                                    0.58
 Vietnam                                     0.50
 World                                   34.43
Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service( 2010)

 

A mature groundnut pod contains 2-4 kernels (nuts) per pod depending on the variety and is traded decorticated and unshelled. In Nigeria, it is eaten as whole nut, raw, boiled or roasted and also crushed to get the oil and the cake. The oil is known as groundnut oil (GNO) and the residue known as groundnut cake (GNC). Groundnut is rated the third major oil seed of the world after soya bean and cotton (USDA, 2010). Groundnut oil is used for cooking, as salad oil, for canning sardines, and margarine manufacturing (Sharma & Caralli, 2004).The residue after oil extraction is a source of protein for animal feed. In traditional oil extraction method, this residue is fried into a local delicacy known as groundnut cake (GNC) or ‘kulikuli’in Hausa. This is ground and consumed in composite with several local dishes. Elsewhere, groundnut is processed into peanut butter, peanut flour, peanut flakes and many other products.

Bulk export of groundnuts from Nigeria started to decline in the 1960s in favour of local crushing by mills in and around Kano and else-where. In 1973/74 cropping season, only 35% of the 559,000 metric tonnes purchased by the marketing board was exported. By 1973/74 also a policy decision to discontinue export of groundnuts entirely was put in place to allow for local processing. Any export of groundnut after then was in form of groundnut oil (GNO) or cake (GNC) (Hogendorn, 1978).

The petroleum oil boom and its consequence upon the agricultural sector saw Nigeria importing groundnut oil. In 1980, about 200,000 tonnes of groundnut products were imported in form of vegetable oil. The 1.95million tonnes output in 1974 dropped to 0.4million tonnes in 1983. Consequently many groundnut processing mills had to close down because of unavailability of the raw material (RMRDC, 2004). However, with the abolition of organized marketing of agricultural products in 1986, the processing and marketing of groundnuts and its products have been left to the private sector (Ingawa, 2004). A survey by RMRDC (2004) showed groundnut output to be 1.98million tonnes for 2003, with greater portion coming from Bauchi and Nasarawa States with 72,000 tonnes and 70,420 tonnes, respectively, and higher estimates for 2004. The rain fed output for Nasarawa State in 2008 was put at 92,450 metric tonnes (NADP, 2009). The soaring demand for groundnut oil in manufacturing and domestic need has kept the pressure on the groundnut crushing industry.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Agricultural development policies and programmes have tended to lay emphasis on improving farm productivity, but with less attention on the processing and storage of the resultant output. For instance, 95% of funding of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) in about 20 to 30 years was devoted to production related research activities (Ferris, 1999). Agricultural credit disbursement in Nigeria has also been in favour of crop production with grain alone taking 67% (CBN, 1998). Consequently, the gains of increased agricultural productivity will not be fully realized if not sustained through the development of a viable processing and marketing sector to support the technical progress attained in production. Market forces have instigated greater opportunities for product differentiation and value addition in some respects (Boland, 2009). These include i) increased consumer demand regarding health, nutrition, and convenience food; ii) efforts by food processors to improve their productivity; and iii) technological advances that enable producers to produce what consumers and processors/manufacturers desire. Importantly, improvement of efficiency in the value chain fosters more equitable, transparent and sustainable distribution of benefits to the various stakeholders (FAO, 2011)

Local processing of groundnut and other sources of oil have still not met the domestic demand for vegetable oil. This is shown in the importation of vegetable oil to supplement local production, with its attendant drain on foreign exchange. The short fall in demand has been estimated at between 300,000 tonnes and 400,000 tonnes per annum. Hence the Presidential Initiative on Vegetable Oil was put in place, to obtain three million tonnes of vegetable oil per annum from five million tonnes of groundnut and to start exportation by the year 2010 (Ojowu, 2004). Consequent upon the above, the challenge of achieving this target was on the groundnut processing industry. Hence this study focused on critical areas in groundnut processing and products marketing chain for appropriate intervention measures to achieve efficiency and increase products availability.

In agricultural processing schemes as in production, several inputs are involved. Raw material that is the farm produce can constitute 90% of the entire inputs needed depending on the level of processing (Austin, 1992). The efficiencies involved in transforming inputs into desired output need be known (Olayide & Heady, 1982). One of the problems responsible for poor performance of developing countries especially in sub- Sahara Africa in international trade is attributed to low value addition. Consequently, products do not meet international standards, and do not compete favourably in the international trade. Optimization of groundnut oil (GNO) and groundnut cake) GNC processing and marketing, is therefore an ultimate desire.

It is also understood from the foregoing that there are information and product gaps in the value chain with respect to groundnut oil, all pointing to inefficiency along the value chain. Most technical and economic efficiency studies have concentrated on primary production of crops and livestock with few on processing, for example Okoh, (1999) worked on cassava roots and its processed products. Kadurumba, Kadurumba & Umeh, (2009) also worked on allocative efficiency of traditional palm oil processing in Imo State. Analysis of technical and economic efficiency data from processing through marketing, with its positive effects in the chain, and integration of markets for processed products is crucial, but unavailable. Consequently, this research has addressed the inefficiencies in the value chain, as depicted in capacity under utilization of plants, poor quality products, low quantity of  output from given level of raw material, inadequate price and output information, unattractive profit incentives, and income fluctuations.   

It has been established that initiating activities from the market – end of the commodity value chain, using improvements in processing and market expansion to provide “demand pull” that benefits raw material producers, especially small- holder farmers, is necessary for sustainable agricultural development (Ojowu, 2006). A survey by RMRDC (2004) revealed Nigerian’s groundnut output of 1.976million tonnes. With the entire crop consumed in Nigeria, examining the performance of the processing segment and hence the downstream segment of groundnut industry will improve efficiency in operations for processors, and entire value chain.

The synchronous movement over time among prices in different markets has become an important index of efficiency in the markets. For a market system, domestic or foreign, efficient performances of its developmental functions depend on the ease with which price changes and responses are transmitted spatially and temporally within the system. Market integration modeled within the framework of the spatial price equilibrium (SPE) model of inter market linkages in the point space tradition, that is subject to production shocks and general price information is crucial for attainment of efficiency of the markets. The poor infrastructural development in developing countries as Nigeria leaves lots of doubts in the attainment of integration of the markets for agro-industrial products, such as groundnut oil and groundnut cake and hence the much desired efficiency in their marketing systems. Acquah & Owusu (2012) suggested further investigation into influence of external factors such as market infrastructure, government policy and self sufficient production, product characteristics and utilization towards market integration.

1.3 Objectives of the Study.

The broad objective of the study was to examine the performance of traditional and modern groundnut processing and marketing in North Central Nigeria. The specific objectives were to:

(i) examine the socio- economic characteristics of traditional and modern groundnut oil           processors;

(ii) describe the traditional and modern groundnut oil processing and marketing systems in      the area and hence the processing value chain;

  • examine the technical efficiency in traditional and modern groundnut oil production and identify the factors that determine efficiency;
  • estimate the profitability of groundnut oil (GNO) processing and identify the factors that make for their profit;
  • examine value added by processing groundnut into GNO and GNC in the area;
  • estimate the level of integration of GNO and GNC markets and identify the factors that influence their integration; and
  • examine the problems of groundnut oil processing and marketing.

1.4 Hypotheses

The null hypotheses tested were:

H01: Groundnut processing into GNO and GNC is not efficient;

H02: Variable input and output prices of GNO and GNC do not affect their variable profit;

H03: There is no significant difference in value of groundnut before and after processing; and

H04: Markets for GNO and GNC are not integrated.

  • Justification of the Study

Positive net returns in any business is an incentive to continue the business. The continuity of investment in crop processing will largely depend on its profitability. Ojowu (2006) noted that “demand- pull” and profit incentive make the changes achieved in developing agricultural processing sustainable. More so that participants in groundnut processing are the low income group who depend largely on what is generated for their sustenance. Therefore the findings of this study will be of immense importance to the participants in the attainment of their business goal.

This study will particularly benefit groundnut processors in increasing the value (quality and quantity) of products at lower cost and hence increase their income. For the marketing agencies, efficiency in the marketing system will increase their returns and lower cost to consumers and manufacturers that use the products as raw materials. Households will be able to acquire GNO and GNC at lower cost for domestic needs. On the whole, the entire value chain from raw material supply (groundnut farmers) through traders to consumers and manufacturers (Bakers, confectioneries, margarine manufacturers, etc) will be improved.

An inverse relationship between increased mechanization of crop processing and women participation was observed by Bruinsma (1999); and that some technologies targeted at alleviating poverty among women did not actually benefit them. The findings of this study will provide technology related information for purpose of intervention and development of appropriate technologies to alleviate poverty among the rural poor, particularly in the study area where religion and other cultural values restrict women from some outdoor income generating activities. It is understood that spatial market integration ensures that a regional balance is attained among food-deficit, food-surplus and non-food producing areas through effective transmission of price signals (Chirwa, 2000).

The findings of this study will set the pace for further research into the groundnut industry. It will also generally provide base-line information to the private sector, government agencies and the non- governmental organizations (NGOs) in their businesses and development activities which will also increase the supply of GNO needed for both domestic and industrial purposes.

  • Limitations of the Study

The major limitations in this study were those inherent in social and economic research. Foremost of which was poor record keeping especially among the traditional processors, with consequent dependency on memory recall for processing and marketing activities with inherent unreliability. Probing and leading questions were however used during data collection to assist respondents affirm their responses. Secondly, the study had to contend with the mood and the on-going activities of the processors during data collection. Because processors could not just stop their processing work or selling products to respond to questions, it was difficult getting them to do that. To enhance the quality of information collected, interviews and observations were used during data collection. This however extended data collection period with its attendant cost.

This study covered only groundnut oil processors in the selected states. Only those actively involved in the groundnut oil processing and products marketing activities comprised the elements in the study, hence other groundnut products were not covered.

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