Fish processing and marketing among women fish mongers in Ofu Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study analysed fish processing and marketing among women fish mongers in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of women fish mongers, various processing activities carried out by women fish mongers in fish processing and marketing, costs and returns of women fish mongers, factors affecting the profitability of women fish mongers and constraints faced by the respondents in fish processing and marketing. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to randomly select a total of 120 respondents from three major markets from the Local Government Area. Primary data was used for the study through the use of a well-structured questionnaire. Data obtained was analysed using descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis, multiple regression model and mean score. Majority (75.0%) of the respondent were married with an average age of 43 years. Also, the results indicated an average household size of 6 persons per household and a mean marketing experience of above 10 years. Furthermore, 55.0% of the marketers had primary education. Sorting (100%), washing (100%), packaging (100%), smoking (100%), salting (82.50%), marketing (94.17%), transporting (98.33%), storage (91.67%), folding (93.33%) and slaughtering (72.5%) were major activities carried out by fish mongers. The total return for small fish was ₦12,580.55, ₦15,820.00 for big fish, and ₦20,250.55 for bigger fish per month. This indicates that an average fish monger earned ₦9,281.97 for small fish, ₦8,309.44 for big fish while ₦10,603.12 for bigger fish as gross margin per annum, suggesting that fish marketing is a profitable venture in the study area. Out of the five independent variables included in the model, marketing experience and household size had a significant influence on fish profitability. The major constraint is inadequate credit facility with a mean score of 3.0. Therefore, the Government should encourage fish mongers by giving them soft loans.