Achoja Felix Odemero

Barbeque is a product of processing innovation that is fast becoming one of the key drivers of the growth and sustainability of fisheries-based industry in Nigeria. Yet there is the dearth of empirical information on its effect on the performance of catfish marketing. It is important to deepen our understanding of the contribution of innovative processing technology (Barbeque), its governance, management and sustainability. This study therefore examined the effect of processing innovation on the performance of catfish marketing in Delta State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected with structured questionnaire to 120 respondents that were selected through multi-stage sampling procedure. The sample was split into 2 sub-samples (i.e. 60 smoked catfish marketers and 60 barbeque marketers) Descriptive statistical tools (i.e. mean, standard deviation, percentage and frequency distribution table), inferential statistics (t- statistics and OLS technique of multiple regression analysis) and enterprise budget were used to analyze collected data. The results show that educated young female (31-40 years) dominated the marketing of smoke catfish and barbeque marketing in Delta State, Nigeria. The result of the multiple regression analysis showed that sex, age, educational level, quantity traded, packaging cost, transport cost, smoking cost, were significant determinants of profit earned by catfish marketers. The mean profitability of barbeque were N37,348.33 is higher than the mean profitability of smoked catfish was N19,381.66 indicating that barbeque marketing is  48.11% more profitable than smoked catfish marketing. The research hypothesis of a significant difference (P<0.05%) in the profit levels was accepted. Further finding shows several constraints affecting catfish marketing. Based on the results, it was recommended that, Government and cooperative organizations should assist catfish marketers to have access to improve modern processing and storage facilities for barbeque. More innovations in catfish value chain should be encouraged to drive development of the catfish industry in Nigeria.

Audience take-away:

• The audience will be able to use the outcome of this research to sustain innovations in catfish processing and marketing.
• Innovations in catfish processing will help the audience in their catfish business.
• This research is simple that other faculty could use to expand their research.
• This study provides a practical solution to the problem of lack of innovations in catfish processing and marketing.