An analysis of factors that traders consider in determining the market price for common beans in Zambia's Lusaka district
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Date
2012
Authors
Kaputo, Mwaba Clara
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Zambia
Abstract
The common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are the second most important legume crop in Zambia
and are mostly grown by small holder farmers in Zambia. Beans are a major and cheaper source
of protein for both urban and rural people and are an important legume food crop which is
widely consumed countrywide among most households especially the low income households.
Farmers usually grow a wide range of bean varieties that vary tremendously in grain size, colour,
and shape and plant growth habit. Over the years, a lot of effort has been put in research for
development to improve bean varieties, so that farmers have access to better and more
productive bean varieties. It is a known fact that farmers grow a wide range of varieties, and that
part of their produce is sold in the markets, but very little is known about the criteria which are
used to determine the market price and choice of certain bean variety in the market (Katungi et al
2006).A study was carried out in Lusaka district, aimed at analyzing the common bean
characteristics that influence its market price. The main objective of the study was to investigate
factors that traders consider in determining the market price for common beans in Lusaka
district. The structured questionnaire was the primary instrument used for data collection and
also informal interviews. Descriptive statistics were generated using SPSS. Excel was used to
organize Outputs.
The results showed that the following characteristics were statistically significant (at 95%
confidence level) and have an influence on the market price for beans included: level of
Education (P= 0.04); because the trader has market information. Cooking Time (P=0.029); this is
because consumers prefer beans that take less time to cook than the one that takes long time to
cook, Size of beans (P=0.02); because consumers preferred medium size beans to the large size
beans and Colour of the Testa (P=0.0I7); because of customer preferences.
These findings have several implications. In terms of seed breeders, these results may help them
to improve on the characteristics such as short cooking time, medium size and dull colour of
common beans which have a significant influence on price. Farmers should be educated about
the varieties with characteristics which consumers look for so as to fetch high price for profit
maximisation. Traders who want to make more profit should be selling beans with characteristics
such as short cooking time, medium size and dull colour of the testa.
Description
Student Project Report
Keywords
Beans-Marketing--Zambia