SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SMOKED FISH PROCESSORS IN EGOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BENIN CITY, EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

This study assessed the socio-economic characteristics of smoked fish processors in Egor local Government Area, Benin City, Edo state. The objectives of the study were to determine the socioeconomic characteristics of fish processors in the study area, identify the methods of smoking adopted in the study area, and determine the constraints of smoking fish as well as to ascertain if they can get economic returns from the processing of smoked fish. Questionnaires were administered through personal interviews with fish processors. The data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), and the results were presented using tables and percentages. It was observed that the majority (98.3%) of the processors were females, with most (28%) being within the age range of 31-40 years. Additionally, 78.3% of the processors were married, and 38.3% were secondary school graduates. Furthermore, 52.5% of the processors sourced their fish from the market, while 47.5% obtained theirs from fish farms. Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations were made: Smoked fish processors should be encouraged to form cooperatives to enable them to obtain loans from banks and government agencies. Improvements should be made to smoking equipment, especially the half-oil drum, which has low batch capacity, lacks smoke barriers and has poor fire control. The government should also support the processors with facilities to aid their businesses, and seminars should be organized to create awareness of healthy measures to take during processing.