ASSESSMENT OF CULTURED CLARIAS GARIEPINUS CONSUMPTION AND CHALLENGES AMONG PRINCE ABUBAKAR AUDU UNIVERSITY STAFF, ANYIGBA, KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This research is aimed at assessing the consumption of cultured Clarias gariepinus and challenges among Prince Abubakar Audu Universtiy (PAAU) Staff, Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria. A multistage random sampling technique was used to collect data from the respondents. First stage a comprehensive list of 789 Staff was compiled as provided by various Heads of Departments and Deans of Faculties, secondly 50% of the Departments were randomly selected from each of the eight Faculties and finally 60% of Staffs were randomly selected from each Department with a sample size of 253 respondents. Structured questionnaire were used to obtain data analyzed through descriptive (frequency, percentages and mean). The results showed that majority (89.72%) of the Staff consumed cultured Clarias gariepinus, purchased from the market (48.62%), because of accessibility (41.5%) and in smoked form (63.64%). About 60% of the respondents consumed cultured Clarias gariepinus because of taste, understood Omega 3 as a good source of essential fats in the fish (69.17%) and good for child’s brain development (99.21%). Price rate (x̄=2.44) is a major challenge to the consumption of cultured Clarias gariepinus among the respondents. The study recommended that fish farming inputs should be subsidized by the Government to reduce the cost of production there by reducing the market price of cultured Clarias gariepinus to make it affordable to the Staff for consumption.