ABSTRACT

The study was on the economics of fresh fish marketing in Caabar south  L.G. A of Cross Rivers State. It had specific objectives of determining the socio-economic characteristics of the traders, estimating the marketing margin and identifying factors which constrained margin. Data were collected by the use of structured questionnaire, Three markets were chosen out oVwhich a total of 150 questionnaires were distributed through simple random sampling. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, marketing margin analysis and ordinary least square estimation techniques. The socio-economic analysis show that the traders were within the active labour force, moderately educated and financed their business through mainly personal savings. The margin analysis shows the venture to be profitable. Purchase cost accounted for 93.4% of the total cost, transportation cost accounted for 2.3%, storage cost 1.8%, processing and rent accounted for 1.2% and 13% respectively. The analysis further show that only 1.2% of the selling price accrue to the retailer as margin. The semi-log functional form was chosen as the lead equation. Purchase cost and transportation cost were found to have had the greatest negative impact on margin. Quantity traded and selling price were significant but did not conform to economic reasoning. The retailers identified lack of storage facilities as a major problem given the peculiarity of the commodity. The study recommends that government should provide cold storage system, which are expensive to provide on individual basis. Equally, traders should form cooperatives to have access to formal credit.