SEAFOOD MARKETING IN SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIAN COASTAL LINE: THE CASE OF AKWA-IBOM AND CROSS-RIVER STATES

Abstract

Seafood is any form of sea life regarded as food by humans. Seafood prominently includes fish, shellfish, marine mammal, edible sea plants and echinoderms. The objectives of this work determined the socio-economic characteristics of the marketers, ascertained the marketing channels, profitability, structure, market concentration and problems militating against the marketing and distribution of seafood. All hypotheses were measured in alternative and null form. Questionnaires were administered to 30 respondents in each settlement in both States totaling 180. This study assessed Seafood Marketing in South-South Nigerian Coastal Line: The Case of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States. Multistage sampling procedure was used to collect primary data from 180 respondents in the study area. Descriptive statistics, Gross Margin, Profitability and Efficiency Ratio, Concentration Ratio, Gini Coefficient and Pearson Correlation were used to analyze the set objectives. The result of the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents revealed that 53% were within the age range of 41 to 50 years in Akwa Ibom, while in Cross River State it was 39%. Moreover, 54% were male in Akwa Ibom, while 56% were female in Cross River State. The result showed that 97% and 86% were married in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States respectively. Also, household size of 1 to 5 persons was recorded to be 83% in Akwa Ibom and 76% in Cross River State. Moreover, 57% and 66% had primary school education in Akwa Ibom and Cross River State respectively. Marketing experience between 11 to 20 years was 54% in Akwa Ibom and 50% in Cross River State. However, personal saving of the respondents was 96% and 88.9% in Akwa Ibom and Cross River State respectively. Monthly income above ₦40,000:00 was 34% in Akwa Ibom while income between ₦30,001:00 to ₦40,000:00 was 27% in Cross River State. The result of the marketing channel revealed that 51% and 47% were producers in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States respectively. Respondents made use of channel 5 for seafood distribution, and fish landings was dominated by Ethmalosa sp, Chrysichthys sp, Pseudotolithus sp in Akwa Ibom, while in Cross River State it was Chrysichthys sp, and Penaeus sp. Furthermore, the profitability analyses revealed the market was profitable and operationally efficient. Gross Margin was ₦290,515.00 in Akwa Ibom, while in Cross River it was ₦664,453.00. The structure of seafood marketers was oligopolistic in Akwa Ibom, but was decentralized (perfectly competitive) in Cross River State with concentration ratio of 33% and 20% respectively for the largest six firms. From the result of the market concentration, the Gini Coefficient was 0.492 and 0.4 in Akwa Ibom and Cross River State respectively. This implies that there is inequality of shares of income. The major challenge facing respondents was lack of credit/loan. It was very severe in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States with 50% and 97% respectively. The Pearson Correlation result in Akwa Ibom State revealed that the age of respondents had a negative relationship with Gross Margin (r= -0.056, P<0.05) and was not significant, while in Cross River State, age had a positive relationship with Gross Margin (r= 0.178, P<0.05) and was not significant, implying that aged marketers have higher Gross Margin than the younger counterparts. The study showed that the activities of the highest six marketers in Akwa Ibom State affected the easy and effective distribution of seafood.