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5.1 Fermented fish marketing
5.2
Mode of distribution
(a) In the West African countries of Côte the Gambia, Ghana and Senegal, and the Central African country of Chad, women dominate the processing and marketing sectors of the cured fish industry. The bulk of the fermented fish is processed and distributed by women at both wholesale and retail levels. In Mali, however, the bulk distribution and wholesale of all forms of cured fish is solely handled by men whilst the women dominate the retail trade. Men are also involved in the retail marketing of fermented fish in Senegal.
In East-Central Africa men dominate both wholesaling and retailing of cured fishery products. In Uganda, for instance, a survey of one district revealed that out of 11,216 people involved in fish trading in the markets, 76.6% were male and 23.4% were female. In . (Burundi) men are involved in fresh fish trading rather than cured fish trading. In the hinterland, however, men are the main cured fish traders and distributors. In Ghana, especially in the southern regions where fish consumption is very high, men are completely absent from the distributive and retail trade of cured fish.
(b) Organization
The private sector dominates the distributive trade in Africa and there are no organized groups. State-owned enterprises are not actively involved in the processing and marketing of cured, including fermented, fishery products. However, in some countries the government provides facilities such as warehouses for the storage of cured fishery products and quality inspection services. Notwithstanding the lack of formal trade associations/organizations, it was observed in Senegal for example that women processors formed cooperatives to secure credit for their individual operations.
In Ghana, cured fish marketing and distribution is an informal activity which operates through the Fish mummy. system. This is a system in which individual female traders enter into contractual agreements with the fishermen and processors in order to gain control over what is produced.
Although formal trade groupings among fish traders are generally absent in many African countries, fish traders form social or welfare societies. By virtue of these associations, traders are able to form some sort of cartel to informally protect their common interest.
The major mode of fish distribution in the countries visited is by bicycle, pick-up/van, truck (5-10 t) and train. In Chad, Ghana, Mali and Uganda, cured and fermented fish are also distributed by means of boats and canoes, while in Mali and Senegal, horse-drawn carts are widely used for the distribution of fermented fish.
5.2.1 Retail packaging
Apart from the Sudan (Table 6), where old petrol or oil cans with capacities of 10-20 kg are used, all the other countries listed package cured fish in polyethylene bags, old papers or leaves for retail trade distribution.
5.2.2 Mode of sale
Throughout Africa, fish sold at the markets is generally displayed on table-tops. The Sudan is the only country where fermented fish is sold in shops. In Côte d'Ivoire, the Gambia, Ghana, Mali and Senegal, the products are not sold in shops or supermarkets but are exclusively sold in popular markets where they are openly displayed either on tables or mats spread on the ground. This condition attracts flies which settle profusely on fermented fish. Traders frequently drive away the flies by swatting them with leaves or papers. Cured fish traders usually sell all types of smoked, fermented salted or dried fishery products.
In coastal countries where significant quantities of freshwater fish are sold, the traders often deal in only one type, either freshwater cured fish or marine fishery products.