Vegetable Handling, Distribution, and Wholesale Profitability in “Abinchi” Night Market, Kumasi-Ghana
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Date
2014
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Publisher
Journal of Postharvest Technology
Abstract
The study was conducted on vegetable handling practices, distribution and
wholesale haulage profitability in Abinchi night market Kumasi, Ghana. Focus
group discussions were held for middlemen, market queens and men, and 150
market queens and men were randomly selected and interviewed to elicit
prevailing handling practices. SPSS was used to analyze data obtained and
financial analytical tools; profit margin, return on investment and benefit cost
ratio were used to assess the profitability of the vegetable wholesale haulage.
Open and closed trucks, mini vans and taxis were identified to be regular
modes of transport of vegetables. Vegetables are packed and stored in jute
sacks with shelf life ranging from 3 to 7 days with visible deterioration over
days. The wholesale haulage of vegetable was viable in the months of July,
August and September. In mid September 2013, a 150 Kg sack full of cabbage
in Tepa, a major hub of vegetable production in the Ashanti region was selling
for an average of GH¢15 on farm. This constitutes 39% of the total cost of a
sack full of cabbage with about 61% constituting the cost of overheads and
transportation at the wholesale centre. The sales price of an average sack of
cabbage to middlemen was GH¢40, with a net revenue of GH¢ 1.20 on each
sack of cabbage sold. A 40Kg jute sack full of carrot sold at GH¢20 on farm,
representing 77% of the total cost per sack.
Description
This article is published in Journal of Postharvest Technology
Keywords
Handling practices, Shelf life, Wholesale haulage, Profitability, Vegetables, Ghana
Citation
Journal of Postharvest Technology,