CHALLENGES OF COMMODITY MARKET ASSOCIATIONS AT MANAGING DISPUTES AMONG MEMBERS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR TRADING IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The Commodity Market Association (CMA); a pivotal body in regulating and ensuring smooth market operations, 
faces significant challenges in managing the disputes effectively among members leading to disruption of trading 
activities, strain relationships between members, and negative impact in the overall economic well-being of market 
participants. This study examined the challenges of the CMAs at managing disputes among members and their 
implications for trading activities in Kwara State, Nigeria. It specifically explored the sources of trade disputes 
among commodity market traders in Kwara State, examined the effects of trade disputes among members on trading 
activities, and identified the challenges of CMAs at managing disputes among members. The study employed a 
quantitative approach, and the survey was administered to members of selected Commodity Market Associations 
and other key stakeholders across the state. It also utilized secondary data sources to include relevant academic and 
research materials, books, journals, newspapers, archival materials, workshop and seminar papers, as well as sources 
from the Internet. Other methodology involved purposive sampling method in selecting two marketplaces in each of 
the senatorial district of the State to ensure representation across different commodity markets, while data analysis 
was conducted using descriptive statistics for the quantitative data. The study concluded that there are many sources 
of dispute among commodity traders with negative implications for the market traders in Kwara State while the 
management of such disputes by CMA are largely challenged by concerts of internal and external factors.