The Approach of Traditional and Modern Fish Farmers under the Background of Socioeconomic Attributes for Sustainable Fish Production in Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted in Baga Fishing Community of Lake Chad Basin area of Kukawa Local Government Area, Borno North, Jere and Konduga Local Government Area Borno Central in Borno State of Nigeria. The study focused on the approach of traditional and modern fish farmers under the background of socioeconomic attributes for sustainable fish production in Nigeria. Data for the study was collected within the period of thirty-one (31) days from 14th March, to 13th April 2022. Both primary and secondary sources of data were employed, primarily qualitative method of data collection was employed. The study revealed that traditional fish farmers engage in fulltime and part-time fish farming and other agricultural activities unlike the modern fish farmers that engage in fish farming on part-time basis, although both the traditional and the modern fish farmers earns monthly income of more than forty thousand (N40,000) naira. Majority of the traditional fish farmers are married with no contact with extension agents. The traditional fish farmers have higher family sizes. Ninety nine percent of the traditional fish farmers have not undergone formal system of education, with very low infrastructural support and other social services unlike the modern fish farmers. Recommendations were made for the upliftment of the general wellbeing of the fish farmers in the fishing communities for sustainable fish production.