The 2012 RUFORUM Biennial Conference is the third in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholers in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. The third Biennial Conference was attended by 657 participants.This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme of Harnessing Aquaculture and Fisheries
Assessment of the Performance of the Aquaculture Fish Marketing chain: A case of Dowa and Mchinji Districts in Malawi
Abstract:
This study was carried out in Dowa and Mchinji Districts in the
Central Region of Malawi. The main purpose of the study was
to improve the marketing system of the small scale fish farmers
for increased income with particular focus on assessing the
socio economic factors that affect supply of fish marketed by
smallholder farmers, assessing the structure and conduct of
the fish market by estimating economic returns and to identify
the best marketing channels and strategies for the small holder
fish farmers. A total of 159 producers that included fish and
non fish farmers, 49 traders, 59 consumers, were interviewed
through focus group discussions. Interviews were conducted
with 20 key informants from actors along the fish value chain.
Results from preliminary findings show that most fish farmers
do not add value to their product due to a number of factors.
Facilities at fish markets are minimal, with poor hygiene and
sanitation. There are rarely any standard practices for handling,
washing, sorting, grading, cleaning and icing of fish. Despite
this, economic returns show that the fish farmers can increase
income if more investment is made in the sector.
Cette étude a été réalisée dans les districts de Dowa et Mchinji
dans la région centrale du Malawi. Le but principal de l’étude
était d’améliorer le système de commercialisation des
pisciculteurs à petite échelle pour l’augmentation des revenus
avec un accent particulier sur l’évaluation des facteurs socioéconomiques
qui affectent l’offre de poisson commercialisé
par les petits exploitants agricoles, l’évaluation de la structure
et le comportement du marché de poisson en estimant les
rendements économiques ; d’identifier les meilleurs canaux et
des stratégies de commercialisation pour les petits pisciculteurs.
Un total de 159 producteurs qui inclut les pisciculteurs et les
non-pisciculteurs, 49 commerçants, 59 consommateurs ont été
interrogés par le biais de groupes de discussion. Les entrevues
ont été menées avec 20 informateurs clés des acteurs le longde la chaîne de valeur du poisson. Les résultats préliminaires
montrent que la plupart des pisciculteurs n’ajoutent pas de valeur
à leur produit en raison d’un certain nombre de facteurs. Les
installations de marchés de poissons sont minimes, avec une
mauvaise hygiène et un mauvais assainissement. Il y a rarement
des pratiques normalisées pour la manipulation, le lavage, le tri,
le calibrage, le nettoyage et le glaçage du poisson. Malgré cela,
le rendement économique montre que les pisciculteurs peuvent
augmenter le revenu si plus d’investissement est réalisé dans le
secteur.
Language:
English
Extended abstracts submitted under Harnessing Aquaculture and Fisheries
Date of publication:
2012
Country:
Region Focus:
Southern Africa
Collection:
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Agris Subject Categories:
Agrovoc terms:
Additional keywords:
Licence conditions:
Open Access
Access restriction:
Form:
Printed resource
Publisher:
ISSN:
E_ISSN:
Edition:
Notes:
