Sun-dried Mukene (Rastrineobola argentea) Value-Chain Analysis in Uganda

Abstract

Marketing of Mukene (Rastrineobola argentea) has become a lucrative business in Uganda after decades of underutilization but its value-chain from capture to market remains unknown. Consequently, a study was undertaken at two selected landing sites located along L. Victoria and several Kampala markets. Using a structured questionnaire a total of 200 fisher-folk were interviewed to identity key-stakeholders, linkages and economic variables along the value-chain. Results indicated that boat-owners incurred the highest input per 100kg-bag of dried Mukene at a cost of UGX 60,000/= followed by regional traders and local traders at UGX 10,000/=. However, the profit margins increased from the boat-owners to the regional traders who earned 2 and 4 times the cost of input respectively. This was expected because some traders were known to offer advance payment to fishers cum processors which trapped the latter in perpetual indebtedness and compromised the final product quality. Although fishers and processors influenced Mukene quality which ultimately determined the price of the final product, they benefited least from their efforts with profit margins 10% and 12% respectively. The profit margin for the boat-owners cum traders selling Mukene for human consumption, varied between UGX 180,000 and UGX 240,000 per 100kg-bag depending on market. Similar weight of Mukene designated for animal feed earned the manufacturer between 44% to 52% profit depending on the mixing ratio with other feed ingredients. The market retailers in the local as well as Supermarkets earned substantial profit.