Consumption of different forms of fish in Abakaliki metropolis of Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Fish represents an important component of protein intake of many households in Nigeria. The different forms of fish available for consumption in most urban areas of Nigeria are fresh, smoked, dried or frozen fish. Households have different preferences for different forms of fish arising from changes in demand, price and income of the household. This creates the need to study and understand the level of demand for the different forms of fish consumed, the factors that influence fish consumption and how the demand for different forms responds to changes in price and income of consumers. It is in recognition of this fact that the present study assessed the demand for different forms of fish in Abakaliki metropolis of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The paper describes the socio-economic characteristics of the fish consumers in Abakaliki metropolis, estimated the quantity and price of different forms of fish consumed in Abakaliki metropolis, ascertained the determinants of consumption of different forms of fish in the area and computed the income and price elasticities of fish demand in the area. Fifty-four (54) consumers were randomly selected from the area and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Using descriptive statistics, seemingly unrelated regression analysis, income and price elasticities, the study found that the largest number of the consumers (75.9%) was interested in fresh fish. Dried fish was the second most preferred fish form consumed by the households (72.2%) while frozen fish emerged was consumed by 64.8% of the households making it the third preferred fish form in the area. The least preferred form of fish consumed in the area was smoked fish and 53.7% of the households consumed this fish form. The average monthly demand was highest for frozen fish. Furthermore, the findings show that age, household size, income, price of different forms of fish, education and gender were significant predictors of fish consumption. All the different forms of fish were price and income inelastic, with varying levels of inelasticity.