Agricultural Science

Problems of agricultural marketing

len Alfred Ajibola - 14th April, 2025 @ 11:53 AM

Topics in Agricultural Science

Problems of agricultural marketing Channels of agricural marketing Agricultural marketing: Stages of agricultural marketing Forest management practices in agriculture Forest management and importance of forest Agricultural ecology and farm ecosystem Components of farm ecosystem Soil formation in agricuture Economic empowerment through agricuture Management as a factor of production in agriculture Labor as a factor of production in agriculture Finance as a factor of production in agriculture Water as a factor of production in agriculture Land as a factor of production in agriculture Len Academy Agricultural Science midterm questions for JSS1, 2nd term Len Academy Agricultural Science midterm questions for jss2, 2nd term Clay soil explained with its types and characteristics Loamy soil explained with its characteristics Sandy soil: Characteristics of sandy soil and ways to make it fertile Soil explained with its composition

Academic Questions in Agricultural Science

Please click here to see all Questions and Answers

The ideal pH for the optimum growth of most agricultural crop is between _____.

  • A. 1 – 3.5

  • B. 4 – 5.5

  • C. 6 – 7.5

  • D. 8 – 9.5

  • E. 10 – 11.5

  • F. 12 – 13.5

People who go about their lives by raising and herding livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats are said to practice _____.

  • A. Pastoralism

  • B. Pasturalism

  • C. Herding

  • D. Herdsmen

  • E. Animalism

  • F. Anime Farming

The act of giving birth in pigs is called _____.

  • A. Calving

  • B. Piggery

  • C. Kidding

  • D. Farrowing

  • E. Calfing

  • F. Pigging

Which of the following is not a vegetable?

  • A. Cashew

  • B. Cocumber

  • C. Tomatoes

  • D. Carrot

  • E. Squash

  • F. Eggplant

All plants are crops.

  • A. True

  • B. False

In agriculture, macronutrients are essential nutrients required by plants. Which of the following is not a macronutrient?

  • A. Zinc

  • B. Sulphur

  • C. Calcium

  • D. Phosphorus

  • E. Potassium

  • F. Magnesium

Which of the following is false concerning micronutrients?

  • A. They are non-essential nutrients

  • B. They are required by plants in minute quantities

  • C. Iron is a micronutrient

  • D. Chlorine is a micronutrient

  • E. Copper is a micronutrient

  • F. Boron is a micronutrient

_____ is a term that describes the biological, chemical and cultural control tactics employed to make pest management economical, environmentally friendly and socially acceptable.

  • A. Integrated Pest Management

  • B. Integral Pest Management

  • C. International Pest Management

  • D. Inclusive Pest Management

  • E. Imbibed Pest Management

  • F. Inclusion Pest Management


Problems of Agricultural Marketing

Agricultural marketing is the process that comprises all activities involved in getting agricultural products from the farmland to the consumers.

 
While agriculture is the backbone of many economies, particularly in developing countries, it faces a plethora of marketing challenges that impede efficiency and profitability. Understanding these problems not only enhances our knowledge of the agricultural landscape, but also sharpens our ability to find effective solutions.
 
 
Below are explanations on the problems (or challenges) of agricultural marketing:
 
 
 

1. Inadequate Infrastructure

One of the most significant issues plaguing agricultural marketing is the lack of adequate infrastructure. Such infrastructure will include good transportation and storage systems.
 
Many rural areas lack proper roads, storage facilities, and transportation systems. Poor roads can hinder farmers from accessing markets, leading to delays in getting their perishable products to potential buyers.
 
Without proper storage, farmers risk losing significant portions of their harvest due to spoilage before they even have a chance to sell them. This not only affects their income, but also leads to food waste; and that's a significant concern globally.
 
 
 

2. Market Access and Information

Farmers often struggle to access markets where they can sell their products. This is partly due to a lack of information about market prices, consumer preferences, and demand trends. Many farmers are unaware of the best times and places to sell their harvest, which can result in them selling at lower prices, or missing out on lucrative markets altogether.
 
Additionally, intermediaries, such as local traders, middlemen and even wholesalers often exploit this information gap, leaving farmers with even less profit. Also, there may be a lack of standardization in measurement; (that is: a uniform weight and measurement) for agricultural produce, alongside their respective prices. This may ultimately lead farmers to garner little access and information regarding the exact market price of their produce.
 
 
 

3. Price Fluctuations

The agricultural sector is notorious for its price volatility. Factors such as weather conditions, pest infestations, and changing consumer preferences can cause prices to fluctuate dramatically. For example, a bumper harvest of a particular crop can saturate the market, driving prices down and discouraging farmers from planting the same crop the following year.
 
Conversely, during a drought, the supply may dwindle, causing prices to soar. This uncertainty makes it hard for farmers to predict their income, leading to difficulties in financial planning and investment.
 
With regards to price fluctuations, middlemen may hoard agricultural produce in an attempt to create artificial scarcity, hence a consequent inflation in the prices of agricultural produce.
 
 

4. Quality Standards and Certification

As global markets become more interconnected, the demand for high-quality agricultural products increases. However, many farmers lack the resources and knowledge to meet these quality standards or certifications required to sell their products, especially outside local markets, and across the country of production.
 
With regards to quality and standard of agricultural produce, there is poor research in marketing and storage information on agricultural produce.
 
Similarly, lack of market intelligence and inadequate information on agricultural marketing often translate into poor income generation for farmers.
 
Therefore, without proper training and support, smallholder farmers (in particular) can find it challenging to comply with international market requirements and standards, thus limiting their opportunities for growth and generation of foreign exchange.
 
 
 

5. Seasonal Nature of Agriculture

Agriculture is inherently seasonal, which means that income for farmers can be inconsistent.
 
During harvest time, farmers may receive a significant influx of cash, but that income can dwindle during off-seasons.
 
This seasonal fluctuation can lead to financial instability, making long-term investments in technology or infrastructure risky. Farmers must find ways to manage their finances wisely to survive during lean months.
 
 
 

6. Dependence on Traditional Practices

In many regions, farmers rely on traditional agricultural practices that may not be the most efficient or effective methods of production. This dependence can stifle innovation and limit the adoption of new technologies that could enhance productivity and marketability.
 
Encouraging farmers to embrace modern agricultural practices can play a pivotal role in improving market outcomes.
 
 

 

In simple terms, the problems of agricultural marketing can be enumerated as follows:

  • Inadequate and poor transportation system. 

  • Lack of agricultural machines and small scale farming.

  • Disparity in prices of agricultural produce resulting from a lack of standardization of measurement.

  • Low yield of agricultural produce resulting from pest and diseases, alongside other climatic factors, e.g drought. Please read on pest of agricultural importance and crops attacked here.

  • Inadequate market infrastructure such as poor telecommunications network, poor electricity supply, unhygienic market environment, poor state of market shops and do on.

  • Poor storage facilities and ease of spoilage (or perishability) of certain farm produce. Such perishable agricultural products include fruits, vegetables, fishes, meats and eggs respectively.

  • Large number of population living below the poverty line. As a result, these populace are unable to purchase enough agricultural produce.

  • Artificial scarcity arising from middlemen and unfavorable weather conditions.

  • Inadequate and poor processing facilities. You can read on labor as a factor of production in agriculture here.

  • Difficulty in assembling agricultural products scattered across the nation. This may further cascade into poor storage and processing of agricultural produce.

  • Lack of functioning research institutes, alongside farmer's poor market intelligence.

Please read on the roles of government in agriculture here.

 

 
In conclusion, agricultural marketing presents numerous challenges that can hinder the growth and sustainability of the farming sector. By addressing these issues through improved infrastructure, better access to market information, stable pricing mechanisms, adherence to quality standards, financial planning, and the adoption of modern practices, we can pave the way for a more efficient agricultural marketing system.
 
Understanding these problems is the first step toward empowering farmers to thrive in a competitive marketplace, ultimately benefiting the economy and ensuring food security for generations to come.

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Amazing facts in Agricultural Science

Cows technically have one stomach, not four. However, a cow's stomach has four compartments. These are: rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum

Peanuts are legumes and not nuts

Although plants neither see nor hear, they can recognize their siblings and even give them preferential treatments

Squirrels do plant more trees (through their actions) than an average human in their lifetime. They often hide their acorns and nuts underground and forget about them

Cows have got the ability to walk up stairs, but not down stairs

A group of cows is called a team, drove or herd.

People just prefer to call them herd

Notable points in Agricultural Science

Below are characteristics of gymnosperms:

  1. Their seeds have cones that protect them.

  2. Sepals and petals aren't present in their cones.

  3. Stigma and style are absent.

  4. They do not produce fruits. Only seeds are formed.

  5. Companion cells are absent.

  6. Sporophyll form the cones.

  7. Anther and filament are absent.

  8. The ovules are not present in the ovary.

  9. Gymnosperms do not possess flowers.

    10. Please read on the anatomical differences between gymnosperms and angiosperms here

The flower is the reproductive organ in plants' sexual reproduction. In order to achieve a successful sexual propagation or reproduction in plants, the floral parts of the flower are utilized.

The floral parts of a flower consists of the followings:

  1. Sepals

  2. Petals

  3. Stamen

  4. Carpel

The stamen is male portion of a plant. It consists of the anther and filament.

The carpel (or pistil) is the female portion of the plant. It consists of the stigma, style and ovary.

Please read more on plants' sexual reproduction here

An organism will be considered a pest if it does one of the followings:

  • Attack crops and eat its seeds, roots, stem, leaves and flowers. Examples are locust and grasshoppers.

  • Cause damage to stored food, fruits or other agricultural produce. Some may even urinate or deaficate on these products. Examples are rodents, cockroaches and mice.

  • Attack and kill farm animals like goats, sheep and cattle. Examples are foxes, wild cats and snakes.

  • Act as disease vectors. A vector is an organism that carries parasite and other disease causing organisms, without being affected; but when they introduce the parasites into their host, such host becomes infected with disease. Examples of vectors are rodents and mosquitoes.

    Please read more on vectors of diseases here.

Below are the classification of crops based on their uses:

  • Oil crops

  • Vegetable crops

  • Latex crops

  • Drug and Medicinal crops

  • Beverage crops

  • Fibre crops

  • Fruit crops

  • Root and Tubers

  • Legumes

  • Spices

  • Cereals

All crops are plants but not all plants are crops. Below are some instances:

  • Weeds are considered as plants, not crops.

  • Parasitic plants are not necessarily crops. Examples of parasitic plants include mistletoe, corpse flower and striga.

  • Carnivorous or insectivorous plants are not necessarily crops. Examples are sundew, venus flytrap and pitcher plant. The image below shows a carnivorous plant (venus flytrap).

Venus flytrap - Len Academy

 

Meanwhile, always understand that all crops are plants, and they are grown for food, money or something beneficial.

Please read on plants versus crops here