Accessibility of Aquaculture Products in Thailand
By Somying Piumsombun
ABSTRACT
The paper first reviews the aquaculture sector in Thailand and focuses on the development of freshwater fish. The government has promoted freshwater fish culture mainly to supply domestically. The development policies that influence markets and access have been stated. It then analyzes fish consumption by species group and by income class. The disaggregate demand elasticities by species and income group are estimated. As a result of increased demand for freshwater fish, marketing plays an increasing vital role and is left in the hand of private sector. Marketing practices including market structure, marketing channel and marketing margins are analyzes and discusses. It is found that the private assembly markets as well as the retail outlets have been developed significantly to serve the increase in both the supply and the demand of cultured freshwater fish. Marketing margin (including marketing cost and profit margin) varies among species and type of products. Obstacles to market access is not observed apparently. However, the shift in production centers close to the big consuming center with high purchasing power in the past two decades may benefit some group of consumer. It may be better off for all consumer if the shift in production center is distributed through the regions that have shortage supply and is supported by the effective and efficient marketing system. The paper concludes with the discussion and analyzes of future domestic market potential in view of existing and evolving consumption pattern and marketing development, and measures required to realize the potential.
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