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ABSTRACT
This study focused on effect of Covid-19 on market orientation of catfish farmers in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo state Nigeria. The specific objectives were to : describe the socioeconomic characteristics of catfish farmers; identify the farming activities engaged in by the respondents; examine the measures used by catfish farmers to maintain market oriented production during outbreak of Covid-19 in the study area; examine the market orientation level of the catfish farmers during the outbreak of the Covid-19 ; ascertain the effect of the pandemic on the market orientation of the respondents ; identify the marketing information sources used by the respondents during the pandemic and identify the constraints encountered by the respondents during the outbreak.
A three-stage sampling procedure was used for a proportional random selection of 124 catfish farmers from the four fish farm clusters in the Local Government Area of the study. Primary data was collected through the use of structured questionnaire in line with the objectives of the study and was supported by in person interview schedule conducted among catfish farmers. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages and mean scores as well as inferential statistics such as Multiple regression analysis.
Results showed that majority (66.9 %) of the catfish farmers were male, married (73.4%) with mean age of 40. Self-formulation of feed (mean= 3.57) was the major measure used to maintain market oriented production during the pandemic by catfish farmers. Result also shows that fear of going out (mean = 4.22) was the major emotional effect of covid-19 on the respondents, high price of feed (mean= 4.72) was the major constraint encountered by catfish farmers during the covid-19 outbreak. It was concluded that high cost of feed was a major constraint encountered by catfish farmers during the Covid-19 lockdown period. The study therefore recommended that more local feed producing industries should be setup in Nigeria in order to meet local demand and reduce cost of importation. This would reduce the cost of feed, thereby reducing the cost of production.
