Factors affecting the goat producers choice of market place and marketing efficiency in Afghanistan

Abstract

This paper aims to assess the efficiency in marketing goats and to identify the factors influencing the choice of market location for goat producers' in Baghlan and Nangarhar provinces of Afghanistan. Goat producers (280) were randomly selected in equal proportions for rainfed and irrigated systems from 28 villages in 4 districts in Baghlan and Nangarhar provinces. Shepherd index of marketing efficiency and binary logit model were used to assess the marketing efficiency and to analyze the goat producers' choice of market respectively. The study indicated that market efficiency was higher in Nangarhar than in Baghlan markets due to lower marketing margins. There is considerable potential for improving the marketing efficiency through capacity building of goat producers in production as well as marketing. Anticipated price per kg live weight of goat, breed, week day, age of goats and production system are influencing goat producers' choice of market location. The study enables the goat producers to plan their goat sales in district markets to fetch high revenue.