Fish marketing problems among the small scale fishermen in siaya district: a case study of West Yimbo location on the shores of Lake Victoria
Abstract
The understanding of the marketing problems
of such an important fishery as West Yimbo location
in Lake Victoria provides a frame-work within which
the management, production and institutional roles
can be handled. The efficient production of fish
as a source of protein and income as well as a
means of earning foreign exchange is largely
dependent on efficient distribution.
This study attempts to examine the fish
marketing problems in West Yimbo location. Speci-
fically the study looks into accessibility of
landing beaches in regard to rainfall distribution,
the exploitative nature of the operatursof
refrigerated trucks who reap huge profits from the
poor fishermen,to determine the sales of processed
and fresh fish in so far as they affect fisherman's
income and the state of Yimbo fishermen Co-operative
Society as far as marketing of fish is concerned.
Primary and secondary data were used to evaluate
the marketing problems in the study area. The
methodology involved the use of chi-square test in
assessing the influence of refregerated trucks in
fish marketing, correlation co-efficient has been
(vii)
used in establishing the relationship of rainfall
distribution and fish processed. The financial
state of Yimbo fishermen have also been regressed
to illustrate whether this society has many
improvements in marketing services. Other less
powerful qualitative methods have also been employed
in analysing and highlighting the marketing problems
in the study areas.
(2.-
The results of the study indicate that fishermens'
recipts, from the sales of their catches are
/\
constrained by lack of storage facili t.ies, inadequate
transport facilities which inhibit the smooth flow
of fish trade and the poor performance of Yimbo
fishermen co-operative society in fish marketing.
The finding revealed that there was a strong
relationship between enrolment membership and the
o C)
grass cast annual turnover, whereas there is a weak
correlation between monthly
rainfall distribution
and the amount of fish processed. The chi-square
test showed that there is a difference in the
,
efficiency of refr~erated trucks and co-operatives
in fish marketing channels. The fishing effort is
therefore not well rewarded.
Fishery research needs to ensure that
information on economic, social, political and
natural factors are well understood. This study
aims at satisfying an economic information which
is neccessary for the development of fishery.
The formulation and interpretation of the functions
used, the examinations of other aspects of the
fishery and the derivations of policy implications
are thus aimed at filling an important information
gap. The study therefore concludes by suggesting
some reccommendation to policy and decision makers
that would help promote development of fisheries
resources and raise the standard living of the
fishermen.
Citation
Master of Arts in Geography the University of Nairobi, 1990Publisher
University of Nairobi. Department of Geography and Environmental Studies