CHANNELS OF DISTRIBUTION IN AGRICULTURE

Subject : 

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

Term :

FIRST TERM

Week:

WEEK 11

Class :

JSS 3 / BASIC 9

Topic :

 CHANNELS OF DISTRIBUTION IN AGRICULTURE

Previous lesson: 

The pupils have previous knowledge of

  PRESERVATION OF FARM PRODUCE FOR MARKETING

that was taught as a topic in the previous lesson

Behavioural objectives :

At the end of the lesson, the learners will be able to

• List the channel of distribution in agriculture
• Write out the activities that are taking place in each channel of distribution in agriculture
• Mention the challenges that are faced in agricultural marketing

Instructional Materials:

• Wall charts
• Pictures
• Related Online Video
• Flash Cards

Methods of Teaching:

• Class Discussion
• Group Discussion
• Asking Questions
• Explanation
• Role Modelling
• Role Delegation

Reference Materials:

• Scheme of Work
• Online Information
• Textbooks
• Workbooks
• 9 Year Basic Education Curriculum
• Workbooks

Content : 

CHANNELS FOR DISTRIBUTION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE
Contents:

1. Channels of distribution in Agriculture

2. Activities taking place at the channels of distribution,

3. Challenges in agricultural marketing.

Sub-Topic 1:

CHANNELS OF DISTRIBUTION IN AGRICULTURE
Introduction: Channels of distribution refers to the various ways through which agricultural produce are carried form the producers (farmers) to the final consumers.
The place where producers and consumers meet to sell and buy their materials is known as a market. Since producers (farmers) and consumers do not live in the same place, it is therefore important for farmers to carry their produce from the place of production (farm) to markets where consumers buy from them. Agricultural produce distribution is not complete until it gets to the door step of the final consumers.

CHANNEL OF DISTRIBUTION IN AGRICULTURE

The channels for the distribution of Agricultural produce are as follows:
Producers Assemblers Wholesalers Retailers Consumers

Producers:
These are the farmers that are responsible for the direct production of crops and livestock. The producers are also responsible for the marketing of their produces so as to get full benefit of their farm activities.

Assemblers:
These are individuals who go from one farm to another in other to gather large quantities of agricultural produce to the market. The assemblers may sort produce according to their grades and provide temporary storage facilities, they assist the producers by providing loans facilities to farmers and put agricultural products on a state that is ideal for marketing.

Wholesalers:
These are people who buy agricultural produces in large quantities from the producers and sell them to the retailers. They have large stores for keeping their stocks called, ware house.

Retailers:
The retailers buy agricultural produce directly from farmers or wholesalers and sell in small quantities to consumers. They have storage facilities where they protect their produce until they are sold.

Consumers:
Consumers are refers to as end user of Agricultural produce. Many consumers buy their agricultural produce at the farm gate in order to buy at cheaper rate. Consumers can also buy from retailers and industries that use agricultural products as raw materials in the manufacture of goods e.g. palm fruits to soap, kola nut to medicine etc.

Local market:
Local markets are places within a country particularly a local Government area where agricultural produce are sold. Every town or village has local market. Farmers take their produce to these markets on particular days. Some operate daily while others may be three days, five days or weekly. Examples are Ogba market in Edo state and other well established city markets such as Oba market and Agbado Market in Edo state, Oyingbo Market in Lagos state, mile 12 market in Lagos, central market in Katsina State, Kofarwambe market in Kano State etc.

Sales of commodities in a local market.

International Market:
International markets are places where agricultural produce obtained from the farm are sold overseas. International Market set minimum standard that agricultural product to be sold must meet. These international marketing may take place electronically on the internet where individuals or organization engage in or make transaction through internet or physical location e.g. international Trade fair, Dawanau International grain market in Kano.

The produce of our farmers sold to buyer is called Agricultural Export. These include Cocoa, Coffee, Palm oil, Kola, Groundnut, Tea, and Grains etc.

Sub-Topic 2:

ACTIVITIES AT THE CHANNELS OF DISTRIBUTION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE

Activities at the channels of distribution of Agricultural produce include the following:

1.  Assembling:
Assembling is the gathering of agricultural products from several individual farmers so that the products are available in large amounts to buyers.

2. Sorting and Grading:
After harvesting agricultural products they are usually stored into various categories using specifications or standard.

Some factors considered during grading include evenness of their sizes shapes and qualities.

These produce are graded into grade

I and II, grade

I earn higher money than grade II .

these function of grading can be done by farmers.

3. Packaging:
This is the practice of putting agricultural produce in small practice or bundles, packing prevent wastage, pests’ infection and contamination e.g. packaging of cocoa, kola nut, cotton, tobacco etc.

4. Bulking:
This is the practice of collecting agricultural produce from small scale farmers at their farm gate for delivery to the co-operative societies or consumers. The purpose of this is to ensure products quantity and stable price.

5 Bulk- breaking:
This involves intermediaries buying in bulk and later splitting them into various sizes, weights, colors and cost in a manner that will interest the final consumers. For example wholesalers may buy in tones, rolls, cartons, packets, bales or bags for later sales to retailers in kilograms, dozens and sachets.

6 loading:
This is the process of carrying agricultural produce in large quantities or amount by vehicles. These vehicles (Lorries) distribute these products to specific companies, market or middle men.

7 offloading:
This is the removal of agricultural produce from vehicles e.g. lorry, train and ship when they get to the point of arrival for distribution e.g. market.

8 stocking:
This refers to how agriculture produce that have been bagged and piled or arranged in the store. It is advisable that the first piles of bags of agricultural produce is first arranged on wooden plate from called stead of direct arrangement on the dare floor of the store.

9 Transportation: This is the system of moving agricultural produce from the farm to the market place using road, rail or sea as means of transportation.

10 Advertisements:
This practice is connected with the display or exhibition of the farm product to the buyer for awareness .this can be done verbally, through newspaper, radio etc.

11 Pricing (marketing):
This is the buying and selling of farm produce through the registration of price that are paid by buyer and collected by sellers.

Sub-Topic 3:

CHALLENGES IN AGRICULTURAL MARKETING

Marketing of agricultural products from the farm gate to the consumer is as important as production. If these products fail to get to the consumer, all effort, money and time invested would have been wasted.
The main challenges in agricultural marketing are as follows:

1. Lack of transport facilities:

2 .Lack of storage facilities: Lack or inadequate storage facilities such as silo rhombus, cribs, barns, and rafter cause loss and wastage.

3. Instability of price in the market.

4. Bulkiness of agricultural produce

5. Inadequate packaging and processing facilities.

7. Keeping qualities

8. Transportation

9. Lack of standard weight and measure

10. Inadequate access to loan.

Presentation

The topic is presented step by step

Step 1:

The class teacher revises the previous topics

Step 2.

He introduces the new topic

Step 3:

The class teacher allows the pupils to give their own examples and he corrects them when the needs arise

Evaluation

Objective Test:

1 An agent who purchases goods directly from middlemen and sells them in small quantities to consumers is called…..A. buyer B. sellers C. wholesaler D. retailers.
2. Who among the following is a middleman?
A. Consumer, B. Farmer C Manufacturer D. Retailer.
3. The producers are ……A farmers B people C. manufacturer D. wholesaler.
4. The place where producers and consumers meet is …………
A. bank B.farm C. market D. home.
5. The market where farm produce are sold within the country is called……….
A. international market B. Local market C farm gate market D. super market.

6. Packaging.is the putting of goods into closed or open containers of convenient sizes, shapes and types for the purpose of sale, storage or transport.

7. Consumers of farm produce are….A. people generally B. agro-allied industries

C. beverages D. all of the above.

8. Which of these is not challenge in agricultural marketing?

A. Keeping qualities B.Transportation

C.Lack of standard weight and measure D. presence of standard weight.

9.  The movement of agricultural produce from farm to market is called………

A sorting B marketing C. planting D transportation.

10. Which of these is not one of the activities of channel of distribution.

A. Offloading B. packaging.C. stocking d. planting.

Part B

Theory

1. List five challenges in agricultural stock exchange.

2. Discuss the activities that take place at the channel of distribution

Conclusion

The class teacher wraps up or concludes the lesson by giving out short notes to summarize the topic that he or she has just taught.

The class teacher also goes round to make sure that the notes are well copied or well written by the pupils.

He or she does the necessary corrections when and where the needs arise.