Baseline Survey of Smallholder Fish Farming Enterprise in Moro Local Government, Nigeria

Abstract

Fish farming could improve livelihood of rural people and enhance community development. This study, thus, investigated engagement and interest of rural people in fisheries activities in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State. 120 questionnaires, which were validated by three co-lecturers and with reliability co-efficient of 0.70, were randomly administered in three selected villages. Response was received from 102 people and the data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results indicated that about 60% of the respondents, most of which were married, earned monthly income ≤ N18, 000.00. Only 30.4% were engaged in fisheries activities such as fish hunting, fish processing and marketing, of which 2.0% were engaged in fish farming. 96 respondents indicated their interest in fisheries activities out of which 93.8% were willing to engage in fish farming. Lack of technical skills and capital were the main constraints to fish farming by these people. Training on fish farming techniques as well as access to credit facilities of the rural people was recommended. Fish farming could serve as means of employment and income generation resulting to poverty alleviation among the rural people. Keywords: engagement, fish farming, interest, poverty alleviation, rural people