Economic analysis of fish processing and marketing in Ogun Waterside Local Government, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the economic analysis of fish processing and marketing in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria using structured, validated and pre-tested interview schedules to collect primary data from one hundred and thirteen respondents. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the socio-economic characteristics, access to productive resources and constraints faced by fish processors while budgetary analysis was used to determine profitability. The result reveals that 99.0% of the respondents were females, 57.4% were within their active economic age group (41 - 50 years), about 50.0% were educated and 82.3% were married. The scale of operation was on small scale level. The result of the budgetary analysis show that average total cost of N53,530.08 was incurred, average total revenue of N58,340.71 was realized and a returning gross margin of N37,088.44. The profitability ratio gave a benefit-cost ratio of 1.089 and expense structure ratio of 0.0603. This is an indication that fish processing business is profitable and viable in the study area. Despite the high profitability of the business, fish processors identified lack of collateral security for bank loan (96.5%), erratic power supply (92.0%) and lack of modern fish processing facilities (43.4%) as their most prevailing problems. With this high level of profitability and viability in fish processing and marketing, it is recommended that Government, cooperative societies, private bodies and non-governmental organizations should provide basic amenities such as storage facilities, electricity, transportation facilities and modern fish processing facilities in other to boost fish production in Nigeria as well as single digit Bank loan with civil servants as guarantors as means of collateral security.