SOCIO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF FRESHWATER FISH MARKETERS IN OSOGBO METROPOLIS, SOUTH-WEST, NIGERIA

Abstract

This research investigated the socio-economic status of freshwater fish marketers in Osogbo Metropolis with the view to examine how it impacted on the livelihood of its operators. A Structured questionnaire was used to collect data from ninety randomly selected respondents on demographic parameters like age, sex, educational and marital status among others. The results showed that 61.1% of fish marketers were women, with average age being between 30 - 39 years. Fish for sale were obtained from private fish farms (64.8%) and fishermen (22%) and were sold mostly fresh (61.5%), processed (18%), or frozen (12%) to consumers. Most (52.7%) were married, 23.1% single, 12.1% widowed and 7.7% divorced. About 90% respondents had formal education. Family size among fish marketers ranged between 1 and 6. Capital for the business was obtained through either personal savings (79.1%) or family members (20.9%). Only 6.6% had access to loans from commercial banks and none of them received any form of financial aid from government agencies. Most operators (71.5%) have been in the business for at least 6 years. Only 58.2% sold fish on a full-time basis while others were involved in farming (both crop and animal husbandry), trading and teaching. It was found that freshwater fish marketing was found to be profitable with a benefit-cost ratio of 1. 21. It was recommended that operators should pull resources together to form cooperatives in order to have better sources of finance for the business.