CHAPTER III
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The chapter describes how the data was collected and analyzed
for production, and marketing of agroforestry products in the study area. In
view of objectives the following methods of study were adopted.
3.1 Sampling procedure
The aim of this study was to assess the existing production
and marketing system of agroforestry in Sindh. However, in an empirical
investigation it is impossible to collect information from the whole
population. Therefore, researchers are often forced to make inferences based on
information derived from a representative sample of the population. The size of
the sample, and amount of variation, usually affect the quantity and quality of
information obtained from the survey. The aim is to devise a sampling scheme,
which is economical and easy to operate and provides unbiased estimates with
small variance. The main characteristics of sampling theory applied in this
study are discussed below.
The selection of a sample from the population is commonly used
in economics, marketing and other disciplines because of limitations of
covering the whole population. Barnett, (1991), considers that cost is the main
constraint in carrying out interviews of the whole population. Given
limitations in terms of money, time, efforts and data management, a sample is a
more appropriate method. They argue that sampling not only saves cost and time
but also gives more accurate results than a census. Given limitations of time,
finance, data management, and traveling a decision was taken to interview 30
agroforestry farmers, 30 Wholesalers, 30 Saw-mill owner and 10 Retailers.
The sample size was considered adequate in terms of depth and
accuracy required and in terms of the time and resources available for the
research study; the respondents were selected through stratified random
sampling technique in the study area. Stratified random sampling is one in
which the population is divided in strata and from each stratum the population
has an equal chance of being selected (Chaudhry, 2002).
3.2 Data gathering Technique
Primary data were collected during 2006 a comprehensive set of
questionnaire was prepared (pre-tested before finalization) to record the
interviews of the selected respondents, the questionnaire comprised the queries
about marketing organization of agroforestry products, marketing cost incurred
by various agencies, price of wood paid and received by various middlemen in
the system and problems faced by various sellers and buyers. Secondary data
were collected from various sources of government publications, from internet
as well as from other literature, for finalization of the objects.
3.3 Marketing Margin
Marketing margin is the difference between sale prices
(selling price and buying price) of two or more than two agencies for
equivalent quantity of a specific commodity. The following formula was used to
calculate the marketing margins,
Mm = Ps - Pb
where, Mm stands for marketing margin, Ps
indicates sale price Pb represents buying price.
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