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Quality Deterioration of Wet Fish Caught in Mymensingh Farm in Different Steps of Distribution Channel Towards Dhaka

M. M. Hossain
MS Fellow
Department of Fisheries Technology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The fish landed for domestic consumption suffers from serious post harvest loss due to ignorance and negligence of the people involved in the harvest, distribution, processing and trade. Low quality fish is a constraint for food security and public health and is a cause for economic loss. The present study was carried out to identify the cause and to quantify the post harvest loss by a sensory tool. Quality deterioration of some major inland species of wet fish was determined at different steps of distribution channel from the fish farm gate of Mymensingh to Dhaka retail markets in June and July 2010. Five distribution channels i.e. farm gate, transport, arot (commission agent), wholesale and retail markets were studied to find out the deterioration level of the quality of fish. Data were collected by travelling with fish and from the stakeholders in distribution channel through questionnaire interviews. In the distribution channel of wet fish RRA and SWOT analysis were done with fish farmer, arotder, transporter, wholesaler and retailer. The major species studied were Indian major carps (Labeo rohita, Catla catla and Cirrhina mrigala), pangas (Pagasius sutchi), silver carp (Hypopthalmichthys molitrix) and tilapia (Oriochromis niloticus). Different species showed different levels of deterioration of quality at various steps of distribution channels. The quality of fish was found to be changed in between arrot and retail market. Inadequate knowledge and practice in handling, icing and container use were found to be the major bottlenecks to keep the fish in acceptable quality.

Keywords: Post-harvest loss, Defect point, Distribution channel, Quality loss

Location: Mymensingh Shambuganj and Dhaka.

Start Date: 00-06-2010

End Date: 00-07-2010

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Fish

Objectives:

To quality deterioration of wet fish caught in Mymensingh farm in different steps of distribution channel towards Dhaka

Methodology:

The study was carried out for the period of nine months from June 2010 to July 2010 for getting a detailed information about the quality deterioration during distribution of fish. To carry out the present study, fish distribution channels were selected from Mymensingh to Dhaka. Three farms of Shambuganj, Mymensingh were selected. In the distribution channel and marketing system of wet fish four important stakeholders were selected. The stake holders were i) fish farmer ii) transporter iii) aratder and v) retailer.The species studied were Indian major carps (L. rohita, C. catla and C. mrigala), pangas ( P. sutchi), silver carp (H. molitrix) and tilapia (O. niloticus) Harvesting of fish was done by the fish owners. Fish were caught from the pond by seine net at night. Then the fish were sorted species wise and marketable fish were selected for sale. All fish were weighed and the carps were taken in the container. Fish were transported in open truck from the farm gate to whole sale market. Fish were taken in the plastic container with water and in the bamboo made basket in case of live pangas and carps respectively immediately after catch. Water used in the container was taken from deep tube well and from the pond too. From the whole sale market, fish were taken in aluminium pot for sale in the retail market. Fish were transported at night and it took about eight hours from farm gate to retail market. Fish were auctioned in two wholesale markets i) in Jatrabari wholesale market and ii) in Rampura bazar wholesale market. Wholesale markets were chosen mainly on the basis of high market price, prompt sale, and easy communication. Auctions were stared at 6 am and continued up to 9 am. Retailers usually are gathered in the whole sale market and took part in auction. The buyers who offer highest price in the auction took the fish from the wholesaler. Sometimes fish are sold by weighing. In that case the retailers could buy fish as their wish. Fakirapool retail fish market and Segunbagicha fish market were selected for the study. Retail markets were selected on the basis of distance. The small but crowded markets were selected. Usually fish are sold on plastic tray in the retail market. But live fish are kept in the earthen or plastic pot in water and sold in live condition. The retailers try to keep the quality good by using ice and frequent use of water on the fish. Unsold fish are kept in ice box or with ice in bamboo basket for later sale. Quality loss of wet fish in different stages of distribution channel was assessed according to the modified method of Nowsad (2010). The method was based on Fish Loss Assessment and Control Tool originally developed by Torry Research Institute, U.K (Sakaguchi, 1990). At first sensory defect points (DPs) of the fishes at different steps of distribution channels were determined using Percent loss of fish in each step of distribution was calculated according to Nowsad (2010). After death fish undergoes biochemical and microbiological changes and these changes are accelerated with the laps of time. Each chemical and microbiological quality parameters has a quality cut-off point beyond which the fish is said to be deteriorated or not acceptable. In a separate study the quality cut-off points of some key chemical and microbiological quality parameters of fish were determined (Nowsad, 2010). When plotted in a graph, the quality cut-off points of those chemical and microbiological parameters intercepted the sensory DP of 3.3 at x- axis, determining that the DP 3.3 was the quality breaking point of the fishes in existing handling conditions (Nowsad, 2010). Quality loss (%) was calculated from the number of assessed cases that crossed DP 3.3 in different investigations. The following formula (Nowsad, 2010) was used to calculate percent quality loss of fish. Each of the 2 fish farms sold and transported their fish to Dhaka on regular basis. For each of the farms, two research voyages were made, one in June and another in July. Thus 4 research voyages were made. In each voyage, the data collectors moved along with the fish from the origin of harvest through the distribution channels up to retailers and assessed the quality deterioration of same fish or same lot of fish. In every step of distribution, at least five lots of same fish and 5 individual measurements for each lot were assessed based on Table 1. Thus the quality deterioration of the same fish or same lot of fish were assessed during its movement from harvest to retailers

Source of Information: J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 10(2): 331–337, 2012, ISSN 1810-3030

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The study found that the losses of farmed fishes to consumer market could be minimized by adopting good handling practices like using insulated container and adequate icing during retailing. If a successful post-harvest loss reduction tools with policy supports could be developed, an estimated 50- 60% of the total loss could be avoided.

Knowledge Management: Journal