Diverse Value Chains, Pricing Strategies, and Price Information Sources of Selected Dried Fish Varieties in Sri Lanka

The dried fish industry is a diverse and dynamic sub-sector nurturing upon the fisheries sector yet mostly invisible and poorly documented. Hence, this study aims to identify the diverse value chains, roles, and main functions, different pricing strategies, and price information sources of sprats, skipjack tuna, and smoothbelly sardinella, which are the most consumed dried fish varieties in Sri Lanka irrespective of the income levels. Fifty dried fish processors were selected through a simple random sampling technique. Dried fish wholesalers (n=20) retailers (n=20), input suppliers (n=5), and dried fish consumers (n=40) were selected through convenient and snowball sampling techniques. The study was conducted in the Matara, Puttalam, and Jaffna districts representing major dried fish-producing towns from three provinces. Descriptive and inferential data analysis methods were applied such as Friedman test. Value chain (I) is the major chain for skipjack tuna and sprats indicating 37% and 30% respectively. Value chain (VI) is the major chain for smoothbelly sardinella indicating 38% out of total value chain. Cost plus (P<0.05, x̄>3.55) and competition (P<0.00, x̄>4.12) based pricing were the main pricing strategies adopted by each value chain actor. Price information is shared among each other through personal contacts intra region (P<0.05, x̄> 4.85) and inter region (P<0.05, x̄> 4.85). Therefore, cost plus and competitive based pricing strategies should be structured nationally.