ASSESSMENT OF FISH MARKET & MARKETING CHANNEL WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON WHOLSALE & RETAIL MARTETS IN SOME SELECTED AREAS OF NATORE DISTRICT

Abstract

The survey was carried out on fish marketing system in some selected area place in Natore district to find out the marketing channels and also find out marketing cost and income of wholesalers and retailers in the study area. The survey was conducted from April to September, 2020 in five markets of Natore district. A total of 110 fish traders were randomly selected for the study and data were collected through face to face interview using a well-structured questionnaire. Focus group discussions (FGD) were carried out by a previously made checklist. Key informant interviews (KII) were made to cross-check the collected data from the fish traders. In Natore district a large number of people were involved in the fish marketing channel as bepari, aratdar, paiker, and retailer. Result found that there are three main marketing channel in the study area. Channel three was identifies as the largest marketing channel in the study area since there were five intermediaries between the producer to consumer. In term of marketing cost it was found that the total marketing cost of wholesaler was estimated BDT 2.72/kg of fish. Transportation was the highest cost comprising 29.41% of the total marketing cost. The second highest cost component was the icing comprising 25.73% of total marketing cost and the lowest was security comprising 4.41% of the total marketing cost. The total marketing cost of retailer in the study area was estimated BDT 2.03/kg of fish. Icing was the highest cost comprising 29.55% of the total marketing cost. Transportation was the second highest 27.09% of total marketing cost and the lowest electricity comprising 5.91% of the total marketing cost. Average profit of the wholesaler was calculated BDT 2500 per day. Among the retail market the highest profit was estimated in Abdulpur bazar and the estimated profit was BDT 797.09 tk. Among the all fish species the highest values fish was found as Pabda and per kg price of this species was calculated BDT 704.00. Whereas the lowest values was found as Pungus with BDT 122.21 kg. The study recommend that to improve the fish marketing, it is essential to establishment of ice factory, improvement of fish transport facilities and introduction of fish quality control measures.