ABSTRACT

Physical distribution channels has created a created a great impact by bridging the gap between the producers and the final consumers. The inability of farmers to effectively reach out to distance markets and most final consumers with their agricultural products have resulted to waste of resources in Boki local government area. The main objective of the study is to find how best to market agricultural products in the area. Primary and secondary data were collected through the use of questionnaires and documented materials respectively. The population of the study was 227,400, while the sample size was 399. Chi-square test statistics was used to test the high hypotheses. Among the findings of the study; in effective and high cost of transportation, lack of storage facilities and basic infrastructure hindered the marketing of agricultural products in the area. The researcher thus recommended the provision of basic infrastructure like accessible road, storage facilities and improved transport system among others to assist in improving the marketing of agricultural products in the area.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title

page..………………………………………………………………………i

Certification

………………………………………………….………………… ii

Dedication………………………………………………………..…………

……   iii

Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………

…….iv

Abstract.………………………………………………………………………

.. viii

Table of contents.……………….………………………………………………. x

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 Introduction ………………………………………………………………

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1.2

Stament

of

the

problem…………………………………………………………

1.3

Objective of the study …………………………………………………

1.4

Research questions ……………………………………………………

1.5

Significance of the study………………………………………………

1.6

Scope and limitation of the study………………………………………

1.6

Definition of terms………………………………………………

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE.

2.0 An over view of physical distribution………………………………

2.1 Nature and importance of physical distribution and marketing logistics.

2.2 Distribution channels for consumer products……………………………….

2.3 Objectives of channels of distribution…………………………………….

2.4 Functions of distribution channels…………………………………

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2.5 Selecting the type of channel………………………………………….

2.6 Distribution of agricultural produce in Nigeria…………………………

2.7 Impact of agricultural marketing in Nigeria………………………………

2.8 Factors that affect agricultural marketing in Nigeria…………………….

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1  Sources of data collection………………………………………….

3.1.1 Primary…………………………………………………………………

3.1.2

Secondary

data…………………………………………………………

3.2

Populationofthe

study…………………………………………………

3.3

Sample size determination…………………………………………

3.4

Sample technique…………………………………………………

3.5          Validity and reliability of the instrument………………………….

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3.6          Method of data analyses…………………………………………..

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION, ANALYSES AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

Introduction.

4.0    Introduction…………………………………………………………

4.1     Data analyses…………………………………………………

4.2     Test of hypotheses……………………………………………………

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND

RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1       Summary of findings…………………………………………………

5.2

Conclusion………………………………………………………………

5.3

Recommendations…………………………………………………………

Bibliography………………………………………………

12

Appendix………………………………………………………

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CHAPTER

1.1                      INTRODUCTION

In many marketing science, the effective management distribution of product are essential to those that determine the extent of product availability at consumption point. Channel analyses is important in evaluating marketing system because it indicates how the various market participants are organize to accomplish the movement of products from the producer to the final consumer.

Distribution channel according to Philip, Kotler and Garry Armstrong (1999:362) is viewed as an interdependent organization involved in the process of making a product or service available for use or consumption by the consumer or business user.

Channels of distribution are management tools used in moving goods from the point of production to that of consumption. This function of getting goods into the hands of consumers is often referred to as „‟distribution„‟. Hence physical distribution involves planning, implementing and controlling the physical flow of materials, final goods

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and related information from point of origin to point of consumption to meet customer requirements and satisfactorily.

Distribution channels however, play major roles in the marketing of goods and in the business sector as a whole. Williams {1984: 38} stated the following as the usefulness or the importance of distribution channels to include: firstly, it gives place utility i.e. by moving goods from one place to another. Secondly, by bringing goods to the place of consumption when needed, it adds time utility.