CONSUMER PREFERENCE AND FISH CONSUMPTION PATTERN AMONG RESIDENTS OF MUSAWA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate fish consumers preference and consumption pattern for some fish species in Musawa Local Government Area of Katsina state, Nigeria. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) structured questionnaires covering data on demographic information, rate of fish consumption and type of fish consumed between July and December 2020 were sourced . The data were analysed using descriptive statistics methods. The results show that nearly half of the respondents 50 (41.67%) were in the age bracket of 35 - 44 years and mostly males 76 (63.34%), while 36.67 (45.0%) were females. The educational level displayed that nearly half of the respondents (37.50%) had tertiary education. The results displayed that nearly more than half of the respondents (80.83%) had consumed fish while only few respondents did not consumed fish (19.17%). Additionally, it is demonstrated that health benefits are the major reason for fish consumption. The major factors affecting consumption of the recognized fish species in the study area were noted to be price, availability, accessibility and healthy concerns. The major constraint for fish consumption were allergy to fish, distance to market, inadequate supply and high cost of the fish. Finally, household have different opinion on the ease of access of fish in the study area.