DETERMINING COSTS-RETURNS PROFITABILITY IN HONEY MARKETING IN CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

This study examined costs-returns profitability in honey marketing in Cross River State. Honey contains 29 percent of protein, 19 percent of amino acid, vitamins and minerals for bodybuilding. Honey mixed with aloe vera gel is use for cure of dandruff and rapid hair growth. This mixture could also help to prevent hair breakage. Honey pollen enhances vitality and brings about a longer life span. Data were obtained from a random sample of 120 honey marketers in the study area by means of structured questionnaire. The first stage involved random selection of three (Obudu, Obubra and Odukpani) local government areas from eighteen local government areas in Cross River State, Nigeria. This was followed by random selection of three villages (Utugwang in Obudu Local Government Area, Ofudua in Obubra Local Government Area and Adiabo in Odukpani Local Government Area) in Cross River State. The respondents were randomly selected from each of the villages, 40 respondents were selected each from three villages, making a total number of 120 respondents. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and costs-returns analysis. Results from the analysis revealed that a net return of N1, 250.00 was realized with N0.22 made on every naira invested. Honey marketing is a profitable business, with attractive net return on investment. This study shows that honey marketers are faced with several problems in their marketing activities. These problems or constraints positively affect the efficiency of honey marketing in the study area. Notable among them are high cost of transportation, lack of capital, inaccessibility of formal credit source because lack of collaterals, lack of extension agents, lack of price information, poor market infrastructures and lack of roads maintenance/bad roads occupied 15%, 14.17%,11.67%,10%,9.17%,9.17% and 8.33% respectively. Hence, for efficient marketing of honey in the study area, these constraints must be drastically reduced to the barest minimum. This can be done through efficient policy formulation and implementation, proper supervision of honey marketing programme, effective extension services and proper agricultural financing. The constraints associated with the business as highlighted in this paper if tackled could pave a way to increase profit and this will alleviate poverty in Cross River State. However, based on the findings of the study it is recommended that honey marketers in the study area should form cooperative group(s) in order to obtain loans from bank(s) to increase their capital base for higher output