Factor Analysis of the Perceived Constraints Affecting Dried Fish Marketing in Urban Areas of Benue State, Nigeria

The study analysed the perceived constraints affecting dried fish marketing in the urban areas of Benue State, Nigeria. To empirically factor out the perceived constraints affecting dried fish marketing in Urban Areas of Benue State, Nigeria, this study via a multi-stage sampling technique randomly selected 150 dried fish marketers who were administered well-structured questionnaires. The data collected were analysed using factor analysis, the study revealed and concluded that pest (0.839), inadequate processing equipment (0.795), inadequate storage facilities (0.801), price instability (0.804), seasonality (0.798) and lack of capital (0.725) were the significant risk factors affecting dried fish marketing in the study area. It was recommended that storage facilities, processing facilities, weighing balances, necessary facilities and capital be provided to aid and advance the business of marketing of dried fish in the area through public private partnership arrangement and government intervention funds.