International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies
2017, Vol. 5, Issue 3, Part H
Incidences of water turtle (Pelusios Species) sold in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
Author(s): Odiko AE and Akpotebu BO
Abstract: This study was conducted to assess the incidences of water turtle (
Pelusios species) sold in Benin City, Edo state. Data was collected through questionnaire and oral interviews in twelve markets surveyed viz Oliha market, Ogiso/New market, Yanga market, Oba market, Osa market, New Benin Market, Ogida market, Uwa market, Edaiken/Uselu market, Uwelu market, Oregbeni market, Oka market across Oredo, Egor and Ikpoba Okha Local Government Areas (LGA) of Edo State, Nigeria. These markets were visited with certain determinative parameters in mind, these includes if turtle were sold, intensity of sales, price indices, socio-economic characteristics of the marketers, utilization of turtle and difficulty encountered if any during sales.
The results showed that turtle were sold in all the markets surveyed, turtle marketers were women (100%) and majority of them were married (74%). They had mainly primary school education (42.3%), secondary school education (34.6%) while few had no form of formal education (23.1%).
The major source of water turtle to the sellers was from intermediaries (wholesalers), turtle were sold based on their sizes and the price indices showed that 0.1 – 0.3kg male turtle cost between N 500 – N 1400, 0.4 – 0.6kg male cost between N 500-2000, 0.7 – 0.9kg male cost between N 800 - N 1900 and ≥ 1kg male cost between N 1250 - N 4000 while female turtle having weights of 0.1 – 0.3kg cost between N 300 - N 1000, 0.4 – 0.6kg female cost between N 700 - N 1500, 0.7 – 0.9kg female cost between N 700 – N 3500 and ≥ 1kg female turtle cost between N 1200 - N 4000. They were utilized for rituals/ancestral worship and served as a food item.
The marketers made an average profit of between N300 - N 400 and as low as N 100 - N 200 per turtle regardless of the size and the major constraint faced by them was low demand which usually necessitated them selling other products along side to breakeven.
Turtle sales provided employment, income, raw materials and food for the populace. It accepted any food consumed by man in captivity which serves as an indicator of the possibility of their ease of culture or being kept as pet
Pages: 566-570 | 1204 Views 98 DownloadsDownload Full Article: Click Here
How to cite this article:
Odiko AE, Akpotebu BO. Incidences of water turtle (Pelusios Species) sold in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Int J Fish Aquat Stud 2017;5(3):566-570.
