ABSTRACT

Catfish consumption is increasingly becoming popular among Nigerians. With the rate of growth in population, demand is likely to be on the increase in the future. A multistage sampling technique of 80 respondents for Eke-Awka market within Awka-South local government area was undertaken using structured questionnaire to obtain information on socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, determinants of consumer’ preference, form of fish consumption as well as the relationship between the consumers average income and educational level on the form of consumption for fresh and smoked fish. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test. Forms in which fish were preferred was analyzed using descriptive statistics and showed that 67.5% preferred fresh fish while 32.5% preferred smoked fish. Two (educational level, average income) out of nine socio-economic factors considered were significant at P<0.05. There was significant relationship between average income and forms of consumption of fresh and smoked fish in Eke-Awka market (P<0.05), also a significant relationship exist between educational level and forms of consumption of fresh and smoked fish in Eke-Awka market (P<0.05). It is recommended that the citizens should be educated more on different forms in which catfish can be consumed such as smoked and fresh form, educating them on reasons it should be consumed in that form.