Socio-Economic Characteristics and Constraints of Fish Farmers in Three Agricultural Zones of Imo State, Nigeria

This study assessed the socioeconomic characteristics and constraints confronting fish farmers in three agricultural zones (Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe), of Imo State, Nigeria. Targeted population were fish farmers whose sources of livelihood were from fish farming using earthen and concrete ponds fish culture system. A structured close-ended questionnaires were administered, in a random sampling procedure to a total of one hundred and twenty (120) fish farmers who were selected for the study, with forty (40) each from the three agricultural zones in Imo State. Items on the questionnaires were organized, categorized and coded correctly. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM/SPSS) software version 22.0. The results obtained indicated that majority of the fish farmers were male (75%) across the three zones indicating gender disparities which may be due to land tenure system. The active workforce is within the age bracket of 40-49 years (35%). Majority of the farmers are married and has large family size. In terms of tenancy, it was observed that most of the farmers are tenants in Owerri unlike the other zones. It was also observed that (38%) of the fish farmers possess tertiary education certificate. In the study area, 13% of the respondents identified lack of storage facilities for fish products as a constraint, In addition, 73% of the respondents attributed poor power supply as a challenge confronting them in the aquaculture operations in the study area. Similarly, 67%) of the respondents ascribed inability to access loans or credit facilities as one of the challenges facing aquaculture. Besides, 83% and 92% of the respondents ascribed high cost of feed and inadequate capital respectively as major challenges confronting aquaculture activities in these area. While 13%, 20% and 23% of the respondents believed that poaching, high cost of land and high cost of fingerlings respectively were the challenges confronting them in fish farming. Moreover, poor pricing of harvested fish (30%), poor water supply (13%) and lack of technical skills (87%) were some of other significant (p < 0.05) constraints faced by fish farmers in the studied areas in Imo State. Therefore to enhance the development of aquaculture in the state, measures should be taken to reduce the cost of fish production through subsidizing cost of inputs, giving grants, organizing workshops, trainings, seminars, field days, radio programs and the use of Extension Agents (EAs). The state government through the Imo State Ministry of Agriculture can establish Fish Demonstration Farms in the three agricultural zones to serve as fish skill acquisition farms, for regular training of fish farmers in the state. All these will definitely assist in the development of aquaculture in Imo State