Consumer perspectives on the African sharptooth catfish in rural and urban areas of the Northern Province

Abstract

This study evaluated consumer behavioural patterns in relation to meat products, with special reference to the African sharptooth catfish, in the Northern Province. Personal interviews were conducted in rural Ga‐Mamphaka and urban Giyani. The major meat type purchased was found to be chicken (71 per cent in the rural and 46 per cent in the urban community). The sharptooth catfish was found to be acceptable to the majority of respondents, both urban (69 per cent) and rural (57 per cent). Most respondents also indicated that they would like to purchase canned catfish. A potential market for catfish would seem to exist at a price competitive with that of chicken.

Notes

Respectively Aquaculture Research Unit, Department of Geography, and Aquaculture Research Unit, University of the North.The authors are grateful to the University for providing financial support and facilities.