Journal of Agricultural Science and Practice

This study evaluates the socioeconomic and institutional determinants governing garri processing and marketing channels in Benue State, specifically analysing participants' socio-economic profiles, modelling the shifters of economic returns, and ranking structural market frictions. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 549 respondents (318 garri processors and 231 garri marketers) across the Otukpo, Ohimini, and Okpokwu local government areas. Primary data collected via structured surveys was analysed using descriptive statistics and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) multiple regression analysis. Findings from the socioeconomic profiling revealed a prime-aged workforce (34.89% within the 36-45 years bracket) that is female-dominated (58.83%), married (52.38%), and moderately literate (48.63% secondary education), operating with a mean household size of 5.3 persons and 8.6 years of enterprise experience. Crucially, institutional support was low, as only 38.25% belonged to cooperatives and a mere 7.47% accessed credit. The multiple regression analysis indicated that R² =0.612, confirming that processing method, experience, education, household size, cooperative membership and credit access were found to be statistically significant drivers (P> 0.05) influencing net returns. Conversely, marital status, age, and sex were not statistically significant (P> 0.05). The major institutional constraints identified included high transportation costs, poor access to formal finance and inadequate processing infrastructure. Despite its strong earning potential, the regional garri enterprise operates far below its capacity due to capital starvation and logistical bottlenecks. Optimising this agri-food value chain requires targeted public policy interventions to deploy localised microfinance facilities, aggressively organise independent operators into functional cooperatives, and upgrade rural feeder roads.