INVOLVEMENT OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES IN CULTURE FISH VALUE CHAIN IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study assessed involvement of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in cultured fish value chain in Niger State, Nigeria. Fish provides a rich source of protein for human consumption. The specific objectives were to: describe the socio-economic characteristics of the SMEs, examine the various SMEs in cultured fish value chain, determine the income disparities between the SMEs along the cultured fish value chain, evaluate the factors influencing the profit of SMEs in cultured fish value chain and finally examine the constraints of different SMEs along the cultured fish value chain. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed in the selection of respondents to get a total number of two hundred and sixteen (216) respondents composed of 79 producers, 75 processors and 62 marketers on which questionnaire were administered and complemented with face-face interview. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, flow chart, farm budgeting technique and inferential statistics such as multiple regression analysis. The results obtained showed that mean age of producers, processors and marketers were 42 years, 40 years and 42years, respectively. Majority (93.8 %, 68.0% and 71.2%) of the producers, processors and marketers respectively, were male implying that men were more involved in cultured fish farming than their female counterparts. The average mean of household size was 7, 7 and 8 for producers, processors and marketers. Also, majority of the cultured fish actors were educated having a minimum academic qualification of first school leaving certificate. This implies that the cultured fish farmers could read and write, thus, able to adopt new innovations. The results also showed that average farming experience of producers, processors and marketers was 11.4 years, 10 years and 8 years, respectively. The cost and return analysis of the culture fish producer for 1000stock/production cycle gives a gross margin sum of ₦176,113.89 and a net profit of ₦123,096.91, while processors (100kg) had a gross margin of ₦51,239.00 with a net income of ₦32,260.09 and the marketers (100kg) had a gross margin of ₦26,564.80 with a corresponding net income of ₦25,351.40 this implies that the culture fish value chain business is profitable. The pair-wise t-test showing differences in the profit margin of the three value actors (producer, processors and marketers) and how they significantly differ from one another revealed t – statistic value of 1.741 at 10% level of probability. This implies that there was a significant difference in the mean profit of the producers and processors, while t – statistic value of 1.634 showed that there was no significant difference in the mean profit of the producers and marketers. Thus, the null hypothesis was therefore accepted Furthermore, t – statistic value of -0.192 showed that there was no significant difference in the mean profit of the processors and marketers. Thus, null hypothesis was therefore accepted. The major constraints faced by cultured fish value chain actors include: Lack of ready market, Shortage of ponds‟ water, Poor extension services, and high cost of fingerlings. Processors constraints are majorly Poor market information, Limited access to credit and high interest rate, Lack of storage facilities. Marketing constraints are Challenges in prices of harvested fish, Lack of ready market, High cost of transportation, Fish price are unstable, Lack of transportation facilities The study concluded that cultured fish farming has helped increase shelf-life, open new market opportunities for producers by increasing job creation down the value chain this directly reduces rural poverty. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that government should improve on infrastructures in the rural areas and there should be active use of extension agents to transfer innovative ideas and technologies to the farmers

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