Studies on the fish marketing system and obstacles in Jessore district, Bangladesh

Abstract

The study was carried out on fish marketing system of Jessore district to find out fish marketing system and obstacles in Jessore district from October to December, 2016 in sixteen different fish markets of Jessore District. Among them Jhikargacha and Doratana fish market were identified as the largest fish market based on daily fish marketing. In study area it was estimated that total marketing cost of fish for aratdar, paiker and retailer was 1.325, 6.052 and 1.829 Tk in per kg of fish respectively. Cost item of fish for different intermediaries was Tk. 9.965 total which included aratdar commission, transportation, personal expenses, wastage, icing, wages and salary, market toll, rent and electricity, packaging materials, loading and unloading, telephone bill, grading and security. The highest marketing costs (Tk. 6.052) were for Paiker as they had paid highest aratdari commission and transportation cost. Average Net profit varied among Paikers, Aratdars and Retailers during peak and lean period, which is Tk. 3.317 for Paikers at peak period and Tk. 2.90 at lean period; for Aratdars Tk. 1.627 at peak period and Tk. 1.494 lean period and for Retailers Tk. 5.229 at peak period and Tk. 5.347 at lean period in per kg of fish. Ilish (Hilsailisha) had high demand to consumers and available in the market with approximate price of Tk. 250 to Tk. 300 per piece. During the study different kind of obstacles were identified in traders and consumers such as uncontrolled transport costs, poor facilities in road communication, inadequate drainage system, poor supply of ice and water, unhygienic condition of fish market, poor sanitary facilities, highest demand of labors, lack of storage and marketing facilities and political disturbances etc. Therefore, to maintain a standard system in fish market cost control among Paikers, Aratdar, Retailers and consumers is essential as well as development in fish transport facilities, introduction of fish quality control measures were suggested to mitigate different problems and improve the fish marketing system in the study area.