Factors Influencing Market Participation of Smallholder Groundnut Farmers in Aweil East County of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, South Sudan

Abstract

The marketing of groundnut by smallholder groundnut farmers is increasingly problematic in Aweil East County in the Northern Bahr El Ghazal State due to a poorly organized marketing system arising from collapse of the marketing board. This has led to decline in groundnuts production. The objective of the study to assess the factors influencing market participation of smallholder groundnut farmers in Aweil East County of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, South Sudan. A descriptive survey research design was employed in the study using structured questionnaires to assess the market channels, socio-economic and intuitional factors. A total of 396 respondents were randomly selected and interviewed, data analyzed using descriptive statistics, logistic regression and general linear Models. The results revealed that majority (67.7%) of respondents were female. The respondents had a mean age of 33.1 years and most of them had no formal agricultural training at 69.4%. Most (78.0%) of them had over 5 years’ experience in ground nut farming. Findings showed 93 farmers market participants and 303 farmers non-market participants. Farmers’ participation was high in Farmer to consumer (42%) and Farmer to wholesale (37.7%) market channels. Largely (79.7%) female respondents directly sold their groundnuts to consumer. Most (60.9%) youth engage in the enterprise, and majority of the respondents had no formal education (68.9%). Farmers education, size of land for cultivation and experience in groundnut growing showed statistical difference between market participants and non-participants. Logistic regression model revealed factors which significantly (P<0.05) influence farmers market participations decision as; Farmers group VSLA(OR=3.3), transport facility (OR=6.3), yield (OR=0.3) and agricultural input and access to market (OR=4.4). General linear models showed quantity of ground nuts consumed (Adjusted Coef = -0.751), use of bicycle and Raksha as means of transport to market (Adjusted Coef = -0.735) and formation of VSLA groups (Adjusted Coef = -0.635 as factors which significantly (p<0.05) influence sales volume. In conclusion, the study has found out that farmers largely consider market and institutional factors in market participation decision. Prevalence of market participation is still low in the study area. However, increased volume for home consumption, type of farmer group and transport facility impact on the sale volumes. I recommend creation of farmer organizations like farmer cooperatives and associations to collectively market their produce and negotiate better prices with buyers, support in agricultural inputs and access to market as well as deliberate farmer investment in more efficient transportation facilities.