ABSTRACT
The study analysed the gender differentials in the marketing of fish in Abia State. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select the 120 respondents (comprising of 60 male and 60 female). Data and information were collected using a well-structured questionnaire. Data analyses were carried out using descriptive analytical tools such as mean, frequencies, percentage and standard and multiple regression model. The result revealed that mean age was 40.5 and 39 years for female and male respectively. It was observed that majority of the respondents were married for both female (76.7%) and male (63.3%). Majority (86.7%) and (90%) of the respondents had formal education for both female and male. The mean household size for both female and male was 6 persons. On average, the marketers have spent about 8 and 6 years in marketing by female and male respectively. Majority (80%) and (66.7%) of the female and male have access to marketing credit. Gini coefficient computation of the male and female fish marketers were (0.62) and (0.744). the net revenue of N126,677.8 for male fish marketers, while the net income of female fish marketers was N141,223.6 for the result on factors influencing the net return of male fish marketers, the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.960 while age, household size, level of education, purchase cost and quantity sold were significant variables influencing the net return of female fish marketers. Results on effect of marketing cost on the quantity of fish marketed by male fish marketers revealed the coefficient of determination as 0.815% while cost of fish, storage cost, transport cost and taxes were significant variables that influence the quantity of fish sold in the study area. Results on effect of marketing cost on the quantity of fish marketed by female fish marketers revealed the coefficient of multiple determination as 0.815% while initial capital invested, processing cost, storage cost and taxes were significant variables that influenced the quantity of fish sold. The major problem affecting of fish was inadequate capital for both male and female with percentage of 90% and 93% respectively. The study therefore recommends the need for a strong inter-state partnership in order to encourage businesses in terms of supply of fish across the state and neighboring state, in other to develop an effective marketing system.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Declaration ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgements v
Table of contents vi
List of Tables x
List of figures xi
Abstract xii
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1
1.1
Background Information 1
1.2 Problem Statement 6
1.3.
Objectives of the Study 8
1.4
Research Hypotheses 8
1.5.
Justification for the Study 9
CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 10
2.1
Conceptual Review 10
2.1.1 Concept of Gender 10
2.1.2
Gender Differentials in Fish Marketing 12
2.1.3
Fish Marketing in Nigeria 13
2.1.4 Classification / Types of Fish Markets in
Nigeria 14
2.1.5 Fish Demand and Supply in Nigeria 15
2.1.6 Costs and Returns of fish farming in Nigeria
17
2.1.7 Economics of Fish Marketing 18
2.1.7.1
Market Efficiency and Profitability 18
2.1.7.2
Profitability of Fish Marketing 19
2.1.8
Marketing system 20
2.1.8.1
Market and marketing 21
2.1.8.2.
Market structure and conducts 24
2.1.8.2.1
Market structure 24
2.1.8.2.2
Market performance 26
2.1.18.3.
Concept of marketing efficiency 28
2.1.8.4 Concept of marketing margin 30
2.1.8.5
Marketing channel 30
2.1.9 Agricultural marketing 34
2.1.9.1
Roles of agricultural marketing 35
2.1.9.2
Problems of agricultural marketing 35
2.1.9.3
Approaches used in the study of agricultural marketing 37
2.1.9.4
Factors affecting market supply of agricultural goods 38
2.2
Theoretical Review 40
2.2.1
Economics of profit maximization 40
2.2.2
The Structure-Conduct-Performance
Theory 42
2.3
Empirical Review 43
2.3.1 Constraints of fish farming in Nigeria 43
2.4 Analytical Review 45
2.4.1
Market channel baseline analysis 45
2.1.4.2.
Concentration ratio 46
2.4.3. Regression analysis 48
2.4.4.
Market margin analysis 49
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY 51
3.1
Study Area 51
3.2:
Sampling Technique 51
3.3 Data Collection 52
3.4 Data Analysis 52
3.5
Model Specification 52
3.5.1
Gini Coefficient 52
3.5.2
Net return 53
3.5.3
Marketing margin equation 54
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS 57
4.1 Socio-economic
Characteristics of Respondents 57
4.1.1 Age 57
4.1.2 Marital status 58
4.1.3 Level of education 59
4.1.4 Household size 60
4.1.5: Marketing Experience 61
4.1.6 Membership of Association 62
4.1.7 Access to credit 62
4.2 Fish Marketing
Channel in Abia State 63
4.3.1
Structure of Fish Market by Male and Female Fish Marketers
64
4.3.2
Structure of Fish Market by Male Fish Marketers 64
4.3.3
Structure of Fish Market by Female Fish Marketers 65
4.3.4
Cost-Return and Efficiency of Fish Marketing by Male and
Female
Fish Marketers in the Study Area 66
4.4.2
Cost, Returns and efficiency for female
fish marketers 67
4.4.3 Testing Hypothesis 68
4.5 Factors
Influencing the Net Return of Male Fish and Female Fish Marketers 69
4.5.1
Factors Influencing the Net Return of Male Marketers 69
4.5.2
Factors Influencing the Net Return of Female Fish
Marketers 71
4.5.2.1 Effect of Marketing Cost on the
Quantity of Fish Marketed by Male and
Female Fish Marketers in the State 74
4.6.2 The result of the effect of marketing cost on the quantity sold 76
4.7. Problems
Associated with Fish Marketing in the Study Area 78
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATION 80
5.1 Summary of Findings 80
5.2 Conclusion 82
5.3 Recommendations 82
REFERENCE 84
LIST OF TABLES
Table 4.1 Age
Distribution of Respondents 57
Table 4.2 Distributions
of Respondents Based on Marital Status 58
Table 4.3 Distribution
of Respondent Based on Level of Education 59
Table 4.5 Distribution
of respondent based on marketing experience 61
Table 4.6: Distribution
of the Respondents Based on Membership of Association 62
Table 4.7: Distribution
of the Respondents Based on Access to microcredit 62
Table
4.8 Estimate of Gini-Coefficient
for male fish Marketers in the Study Area 64
Table
4.9 Estimate of Gini-Coefficient
for female fish Marketers in the Study Area 65
Table 4.9 Cost and
return associated with male fish marketers 66
Table 4.10 Cost and return associated
with female fish marketers 67
Table
4.11: Z-Test for marketing efficiency differential between male and female 68
Table 4.12 Multiple Regression results of factors influencing the net
return of male fish marketers 69
Table 4.13 Multiple
regression results of factors affecting the
net
return of female fish marketers 72
Table 4.14 Regression
estimates of the effect of marketing costs on
the
quantity of fish marketed by male fish marketers 74
Table 4.15 Regression
estimate on effect of marketing cost on the quantity of fish marketed by female fish marketers 76
Table 4.16 Distribution
of Respondent according to marketing problem 78
LIST OF FIGURES
Fig 1: Fish marketing Channel 63
CHAPTER 1
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
INFORMATION
Marketing
involves all the legal, physical and economic services, which are necessary to
make produce from the farm available to the consumers, thus marketing leads to
the creation of form, place and time utilities (Okoh et al., 2008; Ugwumba and Okoh, 2010). It enables producers like
farmers as well as middlemen to earn income with which they purchase other useful
goods and services (Ebe, 2007). The roles of marketing include: (i) Helping to
bridge the gap between the needs of the producers and consumers (ii) Helping
producers better understand the needs of the consumers so they can do a better
job of marketing them (iii) Helping producers decide what to produce and when
to produce. Efficient marketing requires relevant quantitative and qualitative
information that will be reliable at the lowest cost (Kohls and Uhl, 1972).
Thus, lack of market information, poor market structure, which leads to price
instability, poor road network, high cost of transportation, low income of the
farmers can affect marketing efficiency. Agricultural marketing is concerned
with all the economic activities involved in the production and distribution of
agricultural products, (Odii and Obih, 2000); In a competitive economy,
agricultural development cannot occur without improved marketing.
Gender
is defined as ‘the socially constructed roles and status of women and men,
girls and boys (Njuki et al., 2011).
It is a set of culturally specific characteristics defining the social
behaviour of women and men, and the relationship between them. Gender roles,
status and relations vary according to place (countries, regions, and
villages), groups (class, ethnic, religious, caste), generations and stages of
the lifecycle of individuals. Gender is, thus, not about women but about the
relationship between women and men.’ Gender is a methodology that describes
existing gender relations in a particular environment, ranging from within
households or firms to a larger scale of community, ethnic group, or nation,
and organizes and interprets, in a systematic way, information about gender
relations to clarify the importance of gender differences for achieving
development objectives (Rubin et al.
2009).
Men
and women differ in their knowledge of resources, and this implies differences
in their resource use practices. Such differences in resource use and knowledge
are important for biodiversity conservation and resource management, and
underscore the importance of “a gender-based analysis of how spaces and places
are used, valued, and struggled over in specific cultures” (Rocheleau and et al, 1995). As Leach et al. (1995) argued, gender is a “key
dimension of social difference affecting people’s experiences, concerns and
capabilities in resource management.” Resource users such as fishers and
gatherers make use of their everyday experiences and observations in learning
about their environment. If scientists have their taxonomies, resource users
too have their categories. For instance, research conducted by Walters (1997)
in Ulugan Bay on the western coast of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan showed
that local fishers have a detailed system of classification that approximates
the scientific classification.
Fish
farming is the sub-set of aquaculture that focuses on rearing of fish under
controlled or semi controlled conditions for economic and social benefits
(Anthonio and Akinwumi, 2002). The story of aquaculture in Nigeria is
essentially the story of fish culture and the hope of fish supply in Nigeria
hangs on its development and culture. Food and Agriculture Organization (2002),
made a statement that fish products represented a major source of export
revenue for developing countries, amounting to over US $ 20 billion per annum
in late 1990s. This exceeded the values obtained from the exports of meat,
dairy, cereals, vegetables, fruit, sugar, coffee, tobacco and oilseeds in 1997
from developing countries (International Trade Centre, 2002). However, F.A.O
(2007), estimated that Nigeria imports about 560,000 tonnes of fish estimated
at about $400 million annually while annual domestic fish supply in Nigeria
stands at about 400,000 tonnes. This makes Nigeria one of the largest importers
of fish in the developing world. Fish production is important to the Nigerian
economy. It serves as a source of income, reduces the rate of unemployment in
the economy and increases the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Fish is an important
source of animal protein for many households. According to FAO (2007), fish
contribute more than 60% of the world supply of protein, especially in the
developing countries. As a maritime nation with a vast population of over 160
million people and a coastline measuring approximately 853 kilometres, fish
production as an enterprise possesses the capacity to contribute significantly
to the agricultural sector (Osagie, 2012). This has further led to loss of
foreign exchange with about 125 billion Naira been spent on fish importation.
Despite
the popularity of farming in Nigeria, the fish farming industry can best be
described as being at the infant stage when compared to the large market
potential for its production and marketing (Nwiro, 2012). Fish supply is from
four major sources viz., artisanal fisheries, industrial trawlers, aquaculture
and imported frozen fish (Akinrotimi, et
al., 2011). The Niger Delta contributes more than 50% of the entire
domestic Nigerian fish supply, being blessed with abundance of both fresh,
brackish and marine water bodies that are inhabited by a wide array of both fin
fish and non-fish fauna that supports artisanal fisheries (Akankali and Jamabo,
2011). The Nigerian fishing industry comprises of three major sub sectors
namely the artisanal, industrial and aquaculture of which awareness on the
potential of aquaculture to contribute to domestic fish production has
continued to increase in the country (Adewuyi, et al, 2010).
The
hunting, catching and marketing of edible fresh water and ocean fishes largely
dominate fishing industry in Nigeria. Basically, Fish supply in Nigeria is
either by capture fisheries, aquaculture fish farming or by importation.
Capture fisheries involve the harvesting of naturally existing stocks of wild
fish. This can be done either by small scale/artisanal fishers or by
industrial/commercial trawlers. In artisanal fisheries, production is achieved
by individual or by small groups through the use of labour intensive gears.
Characteristically artisanal fishers operate from dugout wooden canoes that are
more often than not unmotorized (Coates, 2000; Anene et al., 2010).
Fish
culture provides lucrative returns to farmers, employment in rural areas,
besides supplying good quality protein diet for people (Njoku, 2000; Reddy and
Ram, 2004; Onoja, 2005). The National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP)
estimated in 2004 that the employment in the fisheries sector is up to 100,000
people who are in various fields of engineering, vessel operation, marketing
and management. In addition to fish protein which is ranked cheapest among the
animal protein sources (Nwuba and Onuoha, 2006), fish provides high quality
calories, fats and vitamins (Samson,1997). In recognition of this cardinal
importance of fish and allied products in the diet and nutrition of man, the
need to develop fisheries as a tool for the provision of adequate fish supply
for human consumption was identified very early in the life of Nigeria as a
nation (Adikwu, 2001).
The
Nigerian government has recognized the importance of the fishery sub-sector and
made several attempts over the years to increase their productivity through
institutional reforms and various economic measures. The Nigerian fish market
is characterized by indigenous mechanism depending on season, ability of buyer
to bargain and of course the concept of demand and supply. However, a
sustainable fish production depends on its marketing structure and performance
to close up demand and supply gap. The structure, conduct and performance are
some of the suitable characteristics of defining an adequate market situation
that optimizes social welfare and maximizes the efficiency of the marketing
system. A detailed study of a marketing system for any product would require an
elaboration of its structure, conduct and performance. Therefore, this explains
the stands in the business, mode of operation, the accepted practices and the
business facilitating arrangement involved in marketing of commodity.
Presently,
fish as an important food component of people in many parts of the world has
increased rapidly over the past hundred years due to improved technology, which
showcases powerful engines and sonar equipment, and led to over fishing,
causing a worldwide decrease in wild stocks. The decline in fish population
calls for an urgent need to increase fish production by farming. The term
'Aquaculture' covers all forms of cultivation of aquatic animals and plants in
fresh, brackish and marine habitats. Aquaculture can be seen as an aspect of
agricultural practices, mainly to increase the production of food above the
level that would be produced naturally. Today, aquaculture is responsible for
an ever-increasing share of global aquatic food production, which has increased
from 3.9 percent in 1970 to 46 percent in 2015 (FAO, 2016). In the light of
this, it is therefore necessary to study gender differentials in the marketing
of fish in Abia State so as to ascertain the structure and states of its market
system in the study area.
Okwuokenye
(2020) asserts that the government at the federal level is committed to
increase the interest of the populace toward fish production and marketing.
This interest in fish marketing cuts across gender differences. According to
FAO (2007), gender is the relations between men and women both perceptual and
material. The report also stressed that gender goes beyond its biological
determination but encompasses its social construct. FAO (2011) acknowledged
that gender is a central organizing principle of societies and often governs
the processes of production and reproduction, consumption and distribution.
Gender difference as stated by Okwuokenye and Okoedo-Okojie (2018) affect the
distribution of resources and responsibilities between men and women. The
authors also stated that gender difference is shaped by economic, cultural,
religious and ideological considerations.
1.2
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Efficient
marketing requires relevant quantitative and qualitative information that would
be reliable at the lowest cost (Kohls and Uhl, 1972; Ebe, 2007). Thus, lack of
market information, poor market structure, which leads to price instability,
poor road network, high cost of transportation, low income of the farmers
affected marketing efficiency. In Abia State live fish markets are concentrated
more in the urban area. Participants in the marketing system may have to travel
long distances in order to buy or sell their produce, a situation, which at
times created gaps between supply and demand and possible hikes in product
prices. More so, fish being an agricultural product is bulky and
perishable.
Inefficiency
in the marketing of fish in Abia State has reduced it’s supply to major market
in the state, and as a result affected regional and inter-regional trade, which
Amani, 1992 reported would decrease the profitability of production and
marketing in a short as well as long term period. It therefore, exerts various
pressures on handling, packaging, transportation and sales with adverse
antecedent effect on market prices. In addition, poor storage facilities
coupled with improper handling and transportation could lead to lower quantity
and cause losses leading to reduced market margins and poor returns.
In
spite of the importance of fish and the fishing industry, fish is an extremely
perishable commodity, spoiling soon after death, due to enzymatic and microbial
actions, resulting in a bad taste, smell and texture; thereby reducing consumer
acceptability (Brigitte et al., 1994;
Garrow and James, 1994; Falodun, 2011).
However,
there are some problems with the fish industry. A recent report from the World
Wildlife Fund argued that some forms of aquaculture place pressure on wild
fisheries through demand for wild-caught fish as feed (Tuominen and Esmark
2003). Another Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology report warned of the lack
of effective regulatory mechanisms for dealing with genetically modified fish,
some varieties of which are already in development (Pew Initiative on Food and
Biotechnology 2003).
Furthermore
fish farming or culture is believed to be the way of bridging the gap in the
short fall between total domestic fish production and the total domestic
demand. Despite this perceived role there is a low level of fish production
which is due to resource use constraints such as feed supply, low managerial
know-how, low capital (which have retarded the pace of development in the fish
farming sub-sector), A great deal of opportunity still abounds in small scale
fish farming business (Agbede and Ojeniyi 2003).
More
so, the place of women in fish production/ marketing from the farm, household
security, family wellbeing, planning, production and many other aspects of life
cannot be overemphasized (Okwunenye and Okoedo-Okojie, 2018). Ekong (2003),
indicated that about 95% of those responsible for feeding the nation are women,
and that the same women decision-making ability has been relegated to the
background by their male counterparts (Okoh et
al., 2010). Fish marketing cuts across gender differences but what is not
clear is which group has more access to credit facilities and earns more from
the marketing process. Though many studies like that of Ikpoza and Elijah
(2018) examined profitability analysis of fish farming in Ese-Odo Local
Government Area of Ondo State, Okwuokenye and Onemolease (2011) analysed the
determinants of fresh fish marketing in urban areas of Delta State. Tafida et al., (2014) examined the livelihood
improvement following resilience intervention in fishing community on Niger
River Basin, but none seemed to have focused on gender differentials in line
with fish marketing in Abia state.
1.3. OBJECTIVES OF THE
STUDY
The
broad objective of this study is to analyse gender differentials in the
marketing of fish in Abia State.
The
specific objectives are to:
i.
describe the
socio-economic characteristics of fish marketers in the study area;
ii.
describe the marketing
channels for fish in the area;
iii.
analyze the structure of
the fish market by male and female fish marketers in the study area;
iv.
determine the cost-return
and marketing efficiency of fish marketing by male and female fish marketers in
the study area;
v.
determine the factors
that influence the net return of male and female fish marketers in the area;
vi.
determine the effect of
marketing cost on the quantity of fish marketed by male and female fish
marketers in the state; and
examine the problems associated with
fish marketing in the study area.
1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
1.
There is no significant difference between marketing margins, market share and
marketing efficiency of male and female fish marketers in the study area
2. Marketing experience, household size,
amount of credit, level of education, selling price and quantity sold are
positively related to net return while transportation cost, age, purchase cost,
and labour cost are negatively related to net return of the cat fish fish
marketers
3.
Initial capital investment, cost of fish, processing cost, packaging cost,
handling charges, storage cost, transportation cost and taxes are negatively
related to quantity of fish sold.
1.5. JUSTIFICATION FOR THE STUDY
The
study has many policy implications. The research findings is useful to academia
by assisting lecturers, students, instructors and other future researchers to
approach the subject matter with deeper understanding as well as serving as a
source of reference.
The
findings provided further understanding on gender differentials in the
marketing of fish by providing answers to the research questions of why and how
various factors influence the marketing of fish. The findings also provided
policy guide to Policy makers to improve the marketing of fish in the area.
Future researchers would also find the findings useful as a reference material.
The
result of the study is helpful for farmers, traders and service providers
involved in the production and marketing of fish in the study area. The
findings of the study is useful for potential and practicing fish farmers,
policy makers, researchers, extension agents and the general public at large.
It would aid potential fish farmers in their enterprise selection and
production pattern decisions. The fish farmers currently involved in this
venture would in addition to the aforementioned information be able to utilize
the findings of this research to realize vast opportunities unexploited in
their enterprise. The policy makers would use these findings to plan
effectively for fishery programme, since the finding would expose the inherent
and peculiar socioeconomic characteristics of fish farmers and how these
characteristics influence their technical efficiency.
Researchers
who intend to further studies on fish farming would find this work useful as a
reference material. The findings also gave the extension agents good background
information about the fishing community and systematic approach in carrying out
the extension programs. This study serves as reference materials to producers,
retailers, consumers, government, non- governmental organizations and the
general public.
Login To Comment