EFFECT OF ADOPTION OF STANDARD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON YIELD OF URBAN FISH FARMERS

ABSTRACT: The study dealt with analysis of food safety among dried fish sellers in Akure North and South Local Government Areas of Ondo State. The study was conducted to identify the safety practices of dried fish sellers, estimate the cost of food safety and the problem of dried fish marketing in the study area. Data were collected through the use of questionnaire supplemented with oral interview and personal observations in the market. Five markets were randomly selected in each local government area and twelve dried fish marketers were sampled from each market giving a total sample size of a hundred and twenty respondents for the study. Descriptive and budgetary tools were used to analyze data collected. Sales point was not sterilized but a minimal consciousness of consumer safety was observed among sellers. Occasionally, product was sundried while heat from charcoal was applied in some cases. Identified food safety problems were poor drying creating mould and presence of flies crowding around the dried fish in every sales points where products were not sealed. It was established in the study that two naira fifty kobo were derivable from each naira invested in dried fish marketing. Dried fish price per unit was increased by 9.68%. This indicates that consumers must be willing to pay higher in order to access wholesome products. It was observed that none of the marketers had safety canter nor sealed up the packaging materials.