

@mastersthesis {6606,
	title = {Optimizing tilapia ({Oreochromis} sp.) marketing in {Honduras}},
	year = {2004},
	note = {EP25751},
	school = {University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff},
	type = {phdM.{S}.},
	address = {Ann Arbor},
	abstract = {Honduran production of tilapia has increased in recent years. However, lack of thorough understanding of domestic markets and coordinated production efforts has hampered the development of a domestic market. The objectives of the present document were first to quantify domestic marketing costs for tilapia produced in Honduras, and second, to develop a mathematical model that represents the Honduran tilapia market indicating the most profitable marketing alternatives for small- and medium-scale farmers. To facilitate the analysis, Honduras was divided into five production regions, based on geographic location, production and marketing conditions. Within these regions, two farm-size scenarios were considered; (1) small-scale farms, operating less than 1 ha of ponds and (2) medium-scale farms with 1 to 22 ha of water surface area, employing semi-intensive production systems. Maximum supply volumes were determined from total cultivated areas, and estimated production yield. Quantities demanded were estimated for 14 potential market cities. Information relative to volume, prices, product form, and preferences for tilapia in open-air markets, supermarkets and restaurants were compiled from previous surveys conducted in Honduras and from secondary data. The marketing cost analysis was based on direct and indirect marketing costs derived from marketing related activities such as transportation, volume of shipments, labor, packaging, ice, promotion, and financing for every potential supplying farm scenario to all prospective market cities and outlets. Major marketing costs in the tilapia industry are transport, sales expenses, and packaging. A profit-maximizing mathematical programming model was developed to identify optimal marketing opportunities. The mixed integer transshipment program emulates conditions of the Honduran domestic tilapia market. It maximizes profit by delivering to higher priced markets giving varying marketing costs. The decision variables utilized by the model included the amount produced, sold and number of deliveries. Decision variables are subject to resource and technical constraints. Resource limits included the available supply of tilapia, and technical constraints included demand, price, truck capacity, and number of deliveries, the latter an integer variable. The program accounts for transport costs and the best transport alternative based on production level, loading capacity, and destination. The farm level regional models considered provided recommendations for farmers on which cities and outlets to target. The national sector model scenario allows for interaction of all regional supplies and all markets. Results from the model suggested targeting primarily outlets with higher sales prices such as restaurants with supplemental production delivered to local supermarkets. The model chooses cities with restaurant demand capable of absorbing the farm{\textquoteright}s production. Farms with high production levels can take advantage of the reduced transport cost of larger trucks. Excess product is sold to alternative outlets. The pattern of satisfying restaurant demand first and delivering to less profitable markets later in order to coordinate production with sales is common to all the scenarios considered in the model.},
	keywords = {0792:Aquaculture, 0792:Fish production, Aquaculture, Biological sciences, Fish production},
	url = {http://search.proquest.com/docview/305046334?accountid=14270},
	author = {Carias, Carlos Miguel Leyva}
}
