ABSTRACT

This study analyses the determinants of household demand for maize in Iwo Adp zone of Osun State. The objectives of the study were to:- Analyse the determinants of demand for maize, determine the level of demand for maize and determine the income distribution of the household maize consumers in the area of study. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select one hundred and twenty respondents in the area. The descriptive statistics that was employed in this study include mean, frequency distribution and use of percentage. The findings revealed that price of maize, income of household, price of substitute good (rice) and household size have significant influence on the demand for maize in the area of study. Maize was also found to be an inferior good in the area. The maize varieties consumed in the area are white and yellow maize. Of all the staple foods declared by the respondents as substitute to maize, only rice was positively significant hence it is a substitute to maize in the area. A slight reduction in price of maize will cause an increase in demand of maize. The level of demand for maize is very high among the respondents. This can be attributed to the low income among the respondents. The study recommended that various government policies should be initiated to provide credit facilities to maize farmers to enable them utilize modern agro-chemical, new hybrid seeds and machines to increase production to meet the demand by man, livestock feed mills and processing industries.