Vol. 1, Issue 1, Part A (2019)

At the household level, capture fishery plays a critical economic, nutritional, healthy and social role in the lives of smallholder farm households. This study was undertaken in West Arsi zone (Nagele Arsi district), East Shoa Zone (A.T.J. K), with the title of Fish Value chain analysis in Langano lake. Both primary and secondary data were collected for this study. The data were collected by means of a semi-structured questionnaire from 150 respondents (130 fishermen around the lake, 2 fishing equipment supplier, 2 primary processors, 5 fish marketers, 6 fish consumers, 3 fish restaurants and 2 hotels). Multi-stage sampling technique was followed to select households for the study purpose. During the first stage two districts (Nagele Arsi from West Arsi zone and A.T.J.K from East Shoa Zone) where fishery production were taken place were identified purposively and at the next stage about 150 fishermen and marketing actors were selected randomly. Key informant interviews and focus group discussion were undertaken during the period of 2020 and 2021. The main functions in the fish value chain in the central rift valley area includes: input supply, production, processing, marketing and consumption of fish and fish products. The main value chain actors identified by the study were input suppliers, fish harvesters, fish processors, fish marketers and individual consumers in the study area. Total gross marketing margin in fish marketing is highest in channels VIII; it accounts a TGMM of 75.2%. Fishery cooperatives enjoy the highest net marketing margin that is 37 birr in channel VI. Producers share from the price paid by consumers is highest in channel III, which accounts 67.5% & followed by channel II which accounts 66% of the price paid by consumers. The lowest net marketing margin, which accounts 11Birr, is associated with fish processor in channel VIII of fish marketing channel in the study area. To point out the possible investment and research entry points so as improve the position of smallholder. Fish producers, Fishery cooperatives and other stakeholders should strongly work on value adding activities instead of selling whole fish. The policy implication is that the fishermen should be educated through extension service, providing modern input and technologies, strengthening of market extension and linking them with financial service to improve the fishery value addition development. Government intervention should be needed to control illegal production and marketing of fish.