Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 50: 3512 - 3519. Published February 27, 2012.
Snail marketing as a means to combating poverty and hunger: the case of edible land snails (achachatina marginata) in Jos, Nigeria
Jatau D. F and Shidiki, A. A
Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 2076 Yola
ABSTRACT
Objective: The study examined the profitability and market performance of snail marketers in Jos North Government Area of Plateau State.
Methodology and results: Respondents were drawn from a cross section of snail marketers in six (6) markets. Fifty (50) marketers were selected through a system of random sampling. Data collected through the administered questionnaire were on the socio economic characteristics, profitability and the constraints to potentials of snail marketing as a tool to meeting the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals. Descriptive statistics including, means, and percentages were used to describe the socio – economic characteristics of snail marketers, while gross margin and marketing performance models were used to determine profitability and marketing margin respectively. The result revealed that more than half of snail marketers were women in their youthful ages ranging from 26 to 45 years, with 87.1% and 90.3% and a gross margin of N 199.00 ($1.29 USD) and N213.20 ($1.38 USD), for wholesalers and retailers respectively. This is an indication of profitability of snail marketing. Implying that snail marketing is one of the several other forest products that can be used to achieve the MDG target of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger by 2015. The main problems confronting the marketers are low patronage, followed by seasonal supply, poor storage and transport facilities.
Conclusion and application: The study therefore recommended that snail rearing be encouraged for all year round supply of the products to improve the intake of protein through greater consumption while improving the income of the marketers.
Key words: Marketing, Snail, Profitability, MDGs, Poverty and Hunger
FULL PAPER [PDF AVAILABLE HERE]
