Abstract

This study assessed the structure and conduct of yam wholesale market in Efon Alaaye Local Government Area of Ekiti State of Nigeria. The primary data was collected with structured questionnaire and administered to yam wholesalers in the study area between 1995 and 2008. The study employed the use of descriptive statistics of frequency, and percentages. The study revealed that the capital required to enter the yam marketing industry in 2008 ranged between N25,000 and N100,000. There was no evidence of dominant firms, price collision or predatory pricing among the wholesalers and most traders sold their product according to the prevailing price in the market irrespective of the costs incurred. 100% each of the respondents expressed inadequate capital, high cost of labour, and high cost of transport while 85.7% expressed lack of storage facilities, and 71.1% competition from other firms as the problems encountered in the industry. Both formal and informal financial arrangement should be encouraged by the government and nongovernmental organization while the wholesalers too should endeavour to form themselves into cooperatives, they should reduce the quantity of yam kept in storage per unit of time, while research into techniques and economics of establishment and use of yam storage should be conducted. Government should improve rural road conditions all in an attempt to enhance marketing of yam and other agricultural products.

Key words: Wholesalers, market structure, conduct.