DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2017.v04i04.006

Pages: 160-166

Information on the profitability, marketing efficiency, determinants of profit and constraints to fresh fish marketing in Delta State gave rise to this study. Multistage and random sampling techniques were used to select 120 respondents. Data were collected using pre-tested questionnaire administered to the respondents by personal interview through trained enumerators. Data analysis was by descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings indicated mean age and marketing experience of 45 and 15 years respectively. Females dominated the business both at the wholesale and retail levels. The enterprise proved profitable with significantly different monthly mean net marketing incomes and marketing efficiency levels of N261,897 and N106,609; 76.59% and 62.60% for wholesalers and retailers respectively, though the retailers were economically more efficient than the wholesalers in the business. Significant determinants of net marketing income were marketing cost, marketing experience, and product price while serious constraints to marketing were inability to access credit, inadequate capital, high and unstable price of produce, high transportation cost and inadequate storage facilities. Policies measures that would reduce marketing cost such as provision of infrastructural facilities and low-cost credits, keeping of accurate transaction records, and formation of thrift and cooperative societies would mitigate the identified problems and increase the benefits accruing to players in the fresh fish valve chain.