Assessment of Market Information System Utilisation by Agricultural Commodity Traders in Rivers State, South South Nigeria

Market information systems are designed to reduce information asymmetries in agricultural markets, improving price transparency and enabling more efficient trading decisions. In Rivers State, digital and radio-based agricultural market information platforms have been deployed with the support of development partners, yet utilisation patterns among commodity traders remain inadequately documented. This study assessed the utilisation of market information systems by agricultural commodity traders in Rivers State. Sixty-five traders dealing in major food commodities including fish, vegetables, and plantain were surveyed across three major markets in Port Harcourt and its peri-urban environs. Data on awareness, access, usage frequency, and perceived benefits of market information platforms were collected through structured interviews. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were applied. Results showed that 56 percent of traders were aware of at least one market information platform, but only 32 percent used these platforms regularly. Mobile phone-based price alerts were the most accessed format. Traders using market information systems reported better price negotiation outcomes and fewer instances of commodity stranding. Low digital literacy, inconsistent data updates, and distrust of platform data accuracy were the main barriers to utilisation. The study recommends investing in trader digital literacy training and improving the data collection and update infrastructure underlying market information systems in Rivers State. Keywords: market information systems, commodity traders, Rivers State, price transparency, utilisation.