Willingness To Use Ice-Fish Box by Fresh Fish Value-Chain Actors in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

A fish preservation technology was developed in the year 2016 by Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, (NSPRI) in a well-insulated container known as “NSPRI Ice-Fish Box” (NSPRI-IFB). The technology was disseminated to fresh fish value-chain actors (farmers, marketers, processors and transporters) in selected coastal local government areas of Lagos State namely Lagos Mainland, Epe, Badagry and Ikorodu which housed Asejere, Epe, Badagry and Ijede fish markets respectively in 2019. The study was conducted in these markets to ascertain the awareness status and determine the willingness of these actors to use NSPRI-IFB. Data were randomly collected from 110 respondents selected through a simple random sampling procedure using questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square statistical tool. Excellent numbers of actors (81.82%) are well aware of NSPRI-IFB while 27.27% of them declare they are not aware. Results further shows that actors are very willing to use NSPRI-IFB for fresh fish preservation (x̅ = 3.87) and transportation (x̅ = 3.81). However, they are not at all willing to use the technology for fish processing ( x̅= 1.67) and curing ( x̅= 1.73). Chi-square analysis reveals significant associations (p≤0.05) between willingness to use NSPRI-IFB and actors’ age and level of education. Conclusively, value-chain actors are well aware and are willing to use the technology. Fresh fish postharvest loss reduction policy should be directed towards mass adoption of NSPRI-IFB.