Fish Consumption and Market Potential of Uganda Farmed Chinese Carps

Abstract

The study was undertaken to achieve four objectives namely: to establish the demographic characteristics and fish consumption habits of Chinese living in selected districts of Uganda; to describe Uganda farmed Chinese carp characteristics; to evaluate how demographic characteristics and fish consumption habits of Chinese living in Uganda influence their fish consumption rates; and to evaluate how Uganda farmed Chinese carp factors influence the consumption of Chinese carp in selected districts of Uganda. Data were gathered using a questionnaire interview with 36 randomly selected individuals of Chinese origin residing in Uganda.  Analysis done using Chi-square tests of independence revealed no association between respondents’ demographic characteristics and their fish consumption rates. Investigation further revealed that Chinese (77.7%) regard fish as an import dietary item, and mainly consume Tilapia (41.7%) and Nile perch (36.1%), because these fish are readily available (36.1%) and are tasty (52.8%). The Chinese spend a lot of money on fish (>Ush50,000; 44.4%), which is the main driver of the rate of fish consumption in this community. They would however freely consume the Chinese carp (55.6%) if it was available. Unfortunately, very few (33.3%) Chinese are aware of Chinese carps farmed in Uganda, since the species is not readily available on the market. Many (72.2%) are however willing to buy it in live form, from Chinese supermarkets (66.7%) because they believe that the fish is clean and hygienic (22.2%) in this form. They (58.3%) would buy at a least 1.1 to 2kg a week and mainly consider price (69.4%) as the main driver when choosing this fish. This suggests that farmed Chinese carps have market amongst Chinese nationals living in Uganda.

Keywords: Marketing Survey, Aquaculture, Chinese carps, Uganda