Aquaculture Characterization: A Case Study on Marketing Channels in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate

The study focused on the marketing channels of aquaculture in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, located in the Nile Delta of Egypt, with an emphasis on the benefits accessed by actors involved in the value chains. The actors were defined as producers, wholesalers, and retailers. A structured questionnaire was developed and administered through face-to-face interviews to collect data on production systems. Statistical analysis was conducted to examine the socio-economic characteristics of the actors. A significant effect (P< 0.001) was found for land ownership, fish shop ownership, and access to transportation facilities. About 35% of producers relied on rented land, while only 6.67% owned their land. Most respondents did not own fish shops; only 18.33% of wholesalers did. Regarding transportation, 78.33% of the respondents reported not having any transportation facilities. Gender also had a significant effect (P< 0.05), with 88.33% of the respondents being male. Fish prices ranged from 83 LE/kg at the farm gate, to 87.9 LE/kg at auctions, and 90.5 LE/kg at the retail level. The consumer price was recorded at 95.93 LE/kg at the final outlets. Net profit, calculated as the difference between the average sale price and total costs per kilogram, was 37.76 LE for producers, 51.47 LE for wholesalers, and 66.38 LE for retailers. Profit margins were 73.3% for retailers, 58.55% for wholesalers, and 45.49% for producers. The results of the study highlight the need to enhance producers’ capacities through targeted guidance and training programs. Providing actors with access to marketing information is fundamental to improving marketing efficiency, as it enables them to better understand the value gained throughout the production cycle. The government's role in price stabilization and market oversight is seen as a decisive factor in managing gross margins across the value chain. It is recommended that government initiatives focus on developing market infrastructure and addressing environmental impacts to support a long-term vision for exporting fish products.