Abstract: A survey of sixty soybeans farmers in three Tivtspeaking districts, viz, Gboko, Katsina-Ala, and Vandeikya; and twenty soybean traders in two soybeans markets, namely Tyowanye and Wanune, in Benue State was carried out to identify and describe the problems in the marketing system for soybeans in the study areas; to determine the marketable and marketed surpluses of soybeans among the selected farmers; to determine the factors that affected both surpluses and to assess the prospects for an improved soybean marketing system in the state. The results of the study show that there were mainly problems of low pricing, transportation and unreliability of soybeans traders as farmers' main sources of market news and information; but also problems of poor market information system; inadequate storage facilities; and lack of grades and standards in soybean marketing system in the state. The problem of poor pricing of the crop, especially as it relates to the Nigerian Groundnut Board (N.G.B) should ease if the board, in fixing producer prices, gives more weight to farmers' production cost and other relevant domestic market variables, while reducing or even completely removing the influence of world market prices on domestic producer prices (since the board no longer finds it necessary to export soybeans from the country). The other problems identified were largely structural in nature, and would hopefully diminish as the state moves further along the road of development.
Using correlation analysis, the study found that factors such as "soybeans output", farmers' "family strength" and "soybean price" had positive and significant effects on marketed soybeans surplus. Increase in these factors should therefore result in increase of the surplus. The introduction of improved soybean lines, coupled with the possibility of supplementing human labour with machine labour in soybean cultivation is likely to bring about increases in soybean yields in the future. These factors therefore point to good prospects for increased soybeans supplies in future, other things being equal. The prospects for increased soybean demand are also assessed as good. This is due to the increasing use of soybeans for the production of the local food - seasoning material called "daddawa", the increasing use of soybeans by vegetable oil mills in Nigeria for the production of soybean oil and meal, and also due to the plan of the Benue State Government to establish a large soybean processing plant in the state. Entrance of the state government, as a major soybean buyer, in the soybean trade would help to stabilize the market. Given good demand and supply prospects, and the expectation that the problems in the soybean marketing system in Benue State will gradually reduce as more economic and infrastructural development occur in the state, the study concluded that prospects exist for increased and improved soybean marketing in the state............ORDER FOR COMPLETE PROJECT MATERIAL NOW!! .
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