The economic effect of insurgency on smoked fish sellers in Maiduguri Metropolis of Borno State Nigeria

Abstract

The research examined the economic effect of insurgency on smoked fish sellers in Baga fish marketing Maiduguri metropolis of Borno-State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected using questionnaires. A total of 60 respondents were randomly selected for the study. Descriptive statistics and gross margin was used to analyse data generated. The result reveales that 91.7% of the respondents were male, 83.3% married, 53.3% were between 41- 60 years, 41.7% constitute family size of between 1-5, 33.3% of the respondent had moderate educational level while 90% had trading as their main occupation. The previous and present gross margin values for small, medium and large carton of smoked fish were (N1, 402.00, N1, 962.20, and N4, 455.30) and (N1, 733.80, N13, 893.00 and N66, 488.70) respectively. The problems mostly encountered were poor storage facilities, pests and disease, lower market price by the buyers due to its perishable nature and lack of access to capital with 21.9%, 31.4% 22.5% and 24.3% respectively. The insurgency attack has negative effect on the economic activities of smoke fish sellers. Local dried fish marketers should be organized into cooperative groups by extension agents and government should provide adequate infrastructural facilities such as modern storage facilities, good road network etc.

Keywords: Fish seller, Insurgency, Baga market