ANALYSIS OF OYSTER MARKETING AMONG WOMEN IN OKRIKA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study analyzed oyster marketing among women in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers
State. The objectives were to: identify the socio – economic characteristics of the respondents;
determine profitability of oyster marketing, ascertain the benefits associated with oyster
marketing and identify the constraints associated with oyster marketing in the study area data
were collected through the use of a questionnaire. A total of ninety (90) respondents were
selected from nine communities, 10 persons from each of the nine communities selected from
Okirika Local Government Area. Data were analyzed with the use of frequency, percentage,
mean scores, ordinary least square (OLS) multiple regression and farm budget technique/.
Findings show that 34.8% of the respondents were between 41 – 50 years, 53.4% were married,
had formal education 31.3%, had an income level between #26,000 - #39,000 (32.5%), and
household size (7) between 11 – 15 years (27.9%). The mean age was 45 years. Level of
women participation size was 7 persons and number of years into oyster marketing was 13 years.
Levels of women participation at oyster marketing were: retailing – removing oyster shells and
selling (x = 2.82), roasting of oysters as a means of preservation (x= 2.60) and distributing
oysters to buyers (x = 2.51). the result of the linear regression analysis showed that at R2 of
0.45 and F ratio of 0.7945, income level of (3.91) and household size (7.22) were significant
positive at p greater than or equal to 0.05. benefits of oyster to rural women were: it reduced
rural – urban migration (x = 2.50), it was a means of livelihood to women (x = 2.52), it reduced
poverty (x = 2.52) and it helped to provide jobs (x = 2.60). oyster marketing from the mangrove
(wholesale) had highest profit of #35,000 per month followed by middlemen with a profit of
#19,200and retailers with a profit of #16,800 per week. The major constraints to oyster
marketing were low funds (x = 2.82), low technology (x = 2.50), water pollution by oil activity
(X=2.92), water pollution by human activity (X=2.60), distant creek (X=2.2.81) and lack of
extension services (X=2.51). the study recommends that water pollution by oil and human
activities should be tackled by the government by monitoring illegal processing of crude oil in the
area.