Evaluation of the Effects of Rural Road Infrastructure on Agricultural Marketing in Kogi State, North Central Nigeria

Rural road infrastructure is widely recognised as a foundational enabling condition for agricultural market development, influencing transaction costs, commodity price formation, and farmer market participation rates. In Kogi State, deteriorating rural road conditions have been linked to post-harvest losses and low farm gate prices in agricultural production zones. This study evaluated the effects of rural road infrastructure on agricultural marketing outcomes in Kogi State. Primary data were collected from 100 farming households in four local government areas with contrasting road quality conditions. Data captured farm-to-market travel times, transport costs, commodity prices received, post-harvest losses, and market participation frequency. Descriptive statistics, road quality indices, and regression analysis were applied. Results showed that farmers in communities with poor road conditions incurred transport costs approximately 45 percent higher than those in well-connected communities. Farm gate prices for maize and yam were 22 to 28 percent lower in poorly connected communities due to reduced buyer competition. Post-harvest losses were significantly higher in isolated communities where product movement delays were common. The study recommends prioritising rural feeder road rehabilitation in key agricultural production zones in Kogi State and integrating road investment planning into the state's agricultural development strategy. Community-based road maintenance arrangements should also be institutionalised. Keywords: rural roads, agricultural marketing, transport costs, Kogi State, farm gate prices.