Abstract |
This research examined constraints to marketing of farmed fish in inland Tanzania. A survey design was employed and data was collected from 217 respondents randomly sampled from villages. This data was collected using questionnaire, participatory rural appraisal, researchers' observations and secondary information sources. Descriptive statistics method was used to report findings. The results revealed that 53% of the respondents harvested fish in the 2005/06 farming year, most of which was sold, and a small amount was reserved for food and/or given for free. Most farmers sold fish within the villages, and a few were sold to middlemen traders who transported them to urban markets. Fish sold in the urban market fetched higher prices than fish sold in the villages. It was noted that customers preferred fish weighing 250 g or more. These results suggest that market incentives can play a significant role in development of aquaculture in inland Tanzania. To maximize profit, fish farmers must sell most of their produce in the urban markets. Higher earnings will, in turn, increase production and attract middlemen traders into the fish business. Consequent to the increased production of, and profit from the fish business, infrastructural facilities will need to be improved as a matter of urgency. |