The Effect of Value Addition on Economic Growth of Fish Marketers in Homa Bay Township
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Keywords
Value addition, fish marketing, enterprise performance, marketing, profitability, growth, Lake Victoria, Homa Bay Township, Kenya
Abstract
Value addition in artisanal fish marketing is increasingly recognized as a catalyst for enterprise competitiveness and rural economic empowerment. However, smallholder fish marketers in Homa Bay Township continue to face severe operational constraints that restrict them to low-margin, traditional preservation methods. This study investigated the effect of value addition practices on the economic growth of fish marketers in Homa Bay Township, Kenya. Anchored on the Customer Value Theory and supported by the Value Chain Theory, the study adopted a descriptive, cross-sectional research design. A sample of 90 fish marketers was selected from a target population of 117 using stratified random sampling, yielding 80 valid structured questionnaire responses (88.9% response rate). Empirical data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses. The regression results revealed that value addition practices exercised a statistically significant positive effect on the economic growth of fish marketing enterprises β = 0.620, p < 0.05, R2 = 0.384), indicating that a unit increase in standardized value addition practices yields a 0.620-unit increase in economic growth. The study concludes that while consumer demand for processed fish products is exceptionally high, enterprise growth remains constrained by an implementation gap in packaging, branding, and formal quality compliance. To unlock the full economic potential of the sector, the study recommends targeted micro-credit financing for processing technologies, capacity building in hygienic packaging by the Kenya Bureau of Standards, and the establishment of modernized landing-site cold storage infrastructure by the County Government of Homa Bay.
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Moses Agumba , Alupe University, P.O. Box 845 - 50400, Busia, Kenya
Alupe University, P.O. Box 845 - 50400, Busia, Kenya
Arnety Makokha, Alupe University, P.O. Box 845 - 50400, Busia, Kenya
Alupe University, P.O. Box 845 - 50400, Busia, Kenya
Stephen Manya , Alupe University, P.O. Box 845 - 50400, Busia, Kenya
Alupe University, P.O. Box 845 - 50400, Busia, Kenya