Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 21 ISSUE 3
Written by Christopher Ogbonna EMEROLE, Sylvanus Ibeabuchi OGBONNA, Precious Aja UKAIWE

This study analyzed marketing of fish feeds in Ikeja, Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos State, Nigeria. The study described socioeconomic characteristics of the marketers, identified distribution channels, determined marketing margins and efficiencies of the feed marketers, compared their profits and determined factors influencing supplies of fish feeds in the area by feed millers and the marketers. Primary data were gathered with structured questionnaires from 21 fish feed mills and from 84 fish feed marketers (63 fish feed retailers and 21 fish feed wholesalers) and analyzed with descriptive and Inferential statistical methods. Fish feed wholesalers posted a relatively higher monthly marketing margin and marketing efficiency than the retailers. In terms of profitability the fish feed retailers posted a higher Gross margin per kilogram of unbranded fish feed sold than the wholesalers. The OLS estimates revealed that supply of fish feed by wholesalers is positively influenced by price of the feed, cost of transportation, and access to credit but negatively influenced by cost of storage. To the retailers, the supply of fish feed was negatively influenced by unit cost of close substitute of fish feed (pelleted poultry feed), and daily charge of market toll. It was positively influenced by price of the fish feed, access to credit, and marketing experience. To encourage both wholesale and retail trade on fish feeds, Lagos State government should assist in bringing down transport costs; bankers should make fish feed traders have easy access to loans and landlords charge lower rents on old stalls and warehouses. Transportation costs can be reduced by subsidizing cost of fuel, providing cheap input delivery vans, and repairing damaged roads.

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