Dry Fish Marketing in Rajshahi and Thakurgaon, Bangladesh

Abstract

The present study was conducted for a period of three months from September to November 2007 to evaluate the marketing status of fourteen selected dried fishes in two important cities of northern Bangladesh, viz! Rajshahi and Thakurgaon. No well established dried fish market was found in Rajshahi. Demand of dried fish spp. was found higher in Thakurgaon than Rajshahi and majority (65.00%) fishes in Thakurgaon were consumed by lower class consumers, whereas in Rajshahi, major buyers were middle class consumers (55.00%). Five types of marketing channels were detected in the study areas. In Thakurgaon, the highest wholesale (BDT 600/kg) and retail price (BDT 775/kg) was recorded for Channa striata in the month of November, and the lowest wholesale (BDT 75/kg) and retail price (BDT 97/kg) found for Puntius sp. in the month of October. In Rajshahi, the highest and lowest average marketing margin were recorded as BDT 118.3±07.64/kg (Wallago attu) and BDT 28.00±02.65/kg (Puntius sp.) respectively. Whereas in Thakurgaon, the highest and lowest average marketing margin were recorded as BDT 133.3±52.04/kg (Channa striata) and BDT 20.83±01.44/kg (Puntius sp.) respectively. The major problems were- spoilage, lack of storage facilities, and lack of available and easy sources. Use of harmful chemicals in the dried fish products was also suspected.

Citation:  Flowra FA, Sen SC, Galib SM, Kamal MM and Islam SN (2010) Dry Fish Marketing in Rajshahi and Thakurgaon, Bangladesh. International Journal of BioResearch 1(5): 13-16.