Marketing of Onion in Aliero Local Government Area, Kebbi State Nigeria

The study attempts to investigate marketing of onion in Aliero Local Government Area, Kebbi State Nigeria, and the structure in existence in onion market and compare the cost and returns for both market participants. Market information was collected through a purposive sampling technique from which 70 respondents each from both the wholesalers and retailers were selected. Costs and returns of wholesalers and retailers were obtained with average gross return of N 19,875 k and N 19,666 k per bag respectively. The Lorenz curve and Gini coefficient were used in determining relative concentration and equality/inequality distribution in the market. The graph of the Lorenz curve was plotted from the cumulative proportional aggregate sales versus the proportion of the retailers' population per month. The Gini coefficient was also calculated using the Lorenz curve graph and the value of 0.42 was obtained. The value indicates the difference or level of concentration by the few groups of retailers. The study suggests the need for government to develop an orientation program for the onion marketers in the study area on measures of establishing satisfactory marketing strategies in the onion market of the study area.