Road transportation constrains agricultural marketing in rural Nigeria, where poor road networks and inadequate vehicles hinder produce movement. This study examined the effect of road transport accessibility on the marketing of agricultural produce in Makarfi Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, Nigeria. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was adopted; reconnaissance and questionnaire administration were carried out between March and July 2025, using stratified and purposive sampling to select 247 respondents comprising vehicle operators (46%), farmers (30%), and marketers (24%), of whom 235 valid responses were obtained (95.1%). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the Kruskal–Wallis H test. Motorcycles (34%) and bicycles (29%) were the most used transport modes; Trunk A roads accounted for 66% of market connectivity, used mainly by vehicle operators. Maize (29%) was the most purchased produce, 40% was moved to other markets, and lorries (35%) were the primary outbound means. Transport costs burdened 37% of respondents (₦1,000–₦3,000 per trip), while poor roads (35%) were the leading challenge. The Kruskal–Wallis test revealed a significant difference in produce volume across six modes (H = 163.35, df = 5, p < .001, ε² = 0.698); post-hoc analysis confirmed that lorries, buses, and taxis moved significantly larger volumes than bicycles, motorcycles, and donkeys. The study concludes that inadequate roads and high transport costs constrain marketing efficiency and recommends rural road investment, storage facilities, transport cost regulation, and intergovernmental collaboration.
Keywords: Agricultural Produce; Kaduna State; Makarfi LGA; Marketing; Transport Accessibility