ABSTRACT

The abstract of this study seek to explain the overall idea that run across the entire project as seen below

The aim of this study is to determine the role of road transport network on the marketing of agricultural produce in the Ndop central sub-division to identify other factors directly or indirectly affecting the marketing of agricultural produce in the Ndop central sub-division. The empirical aspect of this research was carried out using the survey method and questionnaire to obtain information from respondents in the four major villages in the Ndop central sub-division. The data obtained were analysed using the qualitative and quantitative approaches. Tables and percentages were used as tools for presenting and analyzing the data collected. This research made use of descriptive and experimental design.The result of this study indicated that the nature of road network system in the Ndop central sub-division adversely affects the marketing of agricultural produce. It was found that the inaccessibility of farmers to produce was as a result of poor road network in Ndop Central sub-division. The researcher also discovered that the prices of agricultural produce rise and fall as a result of transportation costs. Based on the research findings the researcher made the following recommendations such as; government should put effort in improving the nature of road network in the sub-division since it was observed that inaccessibility reduces the incentives to produce; In planning for agriculture in a particular area, it becomes absolutely necessary that rural feeder roads are to be constructed to link such areas; food collection centres should be established in various rural areas, since transportation cost tends to increase the price of agricultural produce; the provisions of farm equipment should be made available to the farmers and adequate storage facility(warehouses) should be well assessed to check against wastage and spoilage.

To conclude, the study revealed that 51 percent of the total population of Ndop central sub-division stands for the fact that road network is the major problem in the marketing of agricultural products 

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the study

Transport is regarded as an important factor involved in the transportation or movement of goods from point of origin to the point of destination. Road transport network is the only means by which crops produced at farm site is moved to different homes, markets and industries. Transportation creates a favorable market condition for agricultural products, enhances interaction among geographical and economic regions and opens up new areas to economic focus in the country. There are complex relationships that vary in both spatially and over time between transport and development. However, transportation brings development into the society base on the crucial role it plays.

There are three types of routes in the rural areas which are; bush paths, unsurfaced rural roads and surfaced rural roads. The bush path is very common but the least developed of all the routes. Bush paths link villages with farmsteads and they are usually narrowed, winding and sometimes overgrown by weeds especially during the rainy season. This explained why road transports is the best mode of transportation used for the transportation of farm produce. Henry C. Wallace, one of the former Secretaries of Agriculture of the United States, had once remarked, that “Agriculture is our greatest industry, transportation our second greatest.  These two industries are dependent upon one another, and the national well-being is dependent on both”. This statement simply puts in perspective the remarkable impact that a reliable and efficient transport system has on agricultural marketing, which is, quite simply, taking agricultural products from the point of production to the point of demand. In a study carried by Filani (1993) in some rural areas in Africa, it was discovered that where motorable roads exist they are mostly of unpaved surface, narrow width, circuitous alignment and with low quality bridges. In most cases, they are either clad with potholes or characterized by depressions and sagging. Such unsurfaced roads are hardly passable during the rainy season when vehicles get stuck in mud or when the improvised bridges of cut-free trunks get swept away by flood. In another study carried out by Ogunsanya (1988) on the relationship between transportation, underdevelopment and rurality, he observed that the greater the degree of rurality, the lower the level of transport development. Aderamo and Magaji (2010) noted that transportation constitutes the main avenue through which different parts of the society are linked together that is ,the developed countries(USA,Germany, Italy, France, Japan,Canada, Russia ), less developed or developing countries(Nigeria, Tchad, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia,Cameroon, etc) as well as many urban and rural areas linked to each other. Jegede (1992) cited by Ajiboye and Afolayan (2009) noted that road transport is the most common and complex network. It covers a wide range, physically convenient, highly flexible and usually the most operationally suitable and readily available means of movement of goods and passenger traffic over short, medium and long distances.

According to Ajiboye (1994), availability of transport facilities is a critical investment factor that stimulates economic growth through increased accessibility. Paul et al. (2009) pointed out that the impacts of road infrastructure on agricultural output and productivity are particularly important in Sub-Saharan Africa for three reasons. First, the agricultural sector accounts for a large share of gross domestic product (GDP) in most Sub-Saharan countries (Paul et.al 2009). Second, poverty is concentrated in rural areas. Finally, the relatively low levels of road infrastructure and long average travel time’s result in high transaction costs for sales of agricultural inputs and outputs, and this limits agricultural productivity and growth. According to Mabogunje (1971), some of the variables that determine the level of development in a given environment are easy accessibility and mobility.

1.2 Statement of the research problem

Transport affects agricultural marketing because farmers can not accomplish their mission or achieve their objectives of cultivating agricultural produce, since transportation by road is the only means by which farm produce can get to the market. For example, poor road networks in the rural areas have resulted in low productivity, low income and a fall in the standard of living of rural residents and high rate of poverty.  Poor road network hinders transportation of farm produce resulting to poor sales and as a result, farmers will be making losses. Also, when transportation of agricultural products is neglected, farmers are reluctant to cultivate in large quantity which leads to a rise in price, even since the beginning of time, agriculture and transportation have always co-existed inseparably.  This is not only because of the source of food and fibre but also that the agricultural products be distributed to markets, ports and factories. Indeed, adequate and efficient transportation network is a cornerstone of the modern food marketing system.  Transportation thus serves as a means of moving goods, ideas and information geared towards increased productivity.

In the Ndop central sub-division (NCSD) of the North West region of Cameroon, road constitute the most important infrastructure in the structural transportation of her agriculture. Most of the roads which are essential for the evacuation of farm produce from the farm to the market place are often inaccessible all year round. Most of these feeder rods are unsurfaced, narrow, poorly drained and winding; they prevent easy access to the hinter land where the majority of the farmers are located in the NCSD. Even when such roads are in a fair condition there is a problem of poor maintenance, lack of adequate execution capacity, lack of suitable materials and management problems. Besides, the inadequacy of road network services is; delay in transit, bad loading and offloading, and rough handling of goods characterize road transport resulting in great losses from damages, spoilage and detonation of products. Poor transportation also has added effect of preventing farmers from specializing in the crops that offer them the best return. All these factors attributed to the low agricultural produce in NCSD. If agriculture will respond to the growing demand of the rural populace, then it will be necessary to include a good rural structure with road network to reduce the cost of flow of agricultural commodities, information and all sorts for rural services to enable it contribute meaningfully to the general economic growth. This will help to accommodate the increase traffic flow of input and output moving from rural areas (bamunka,bamali, bamessing, bambalang) to urban centers in Cameroon, which will involve extra addition of maintaining rural road network.

1.3 Research questions

1.3.1 Main research question

How does transportation network influence the marketing of agricultural products?

• Specific research questions

1. What factor directly or indirectly affects the marketing of agricultural products.

2. What are the effects of poor road network in the marketing of agricultural products?
3. What effective measures can be put in place to ease the marketing of agricultural products?
   • Objective of the study

1.4.1 Main research objective

To examine the influence of road network in the marketing of agricultural products

1.4.2 Specific research objectives

1. To examine the nature of road network in Ndop central sub-division
2. To examine the factors that affect the marketing of agricultural products in Ndop central sub-division
3. To analyze the effects of poor road network in the marketing of agricultural products in Ndop Sub-division.