ASSESSMENT OF PARTICIPATION LEVEL OF RURAL WOMEN IN FISH FARMING IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Attaining food security in Nigeria is a major concern with low level of food production. The study examined the level of participation of rural women in fish farming in Kaduna State. The objectives of the study were to describe socio-economic characteristics of fish farmers, determine the factors influencing the participation of respondents in fish farming identify the level of participation of rural women and describe the constraints to fish farming. Purposive sampling was used for the study. From the eleven (11) wards in Kagarko Local Government Area, six (6) wards were purposively selected, six (6) villages were randomly selected from each ward and twenty (20) rural women were randomly selected from each village to give a total one hundred and twenty (120) respondents. Data were collected using structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and Regression analysis were used to achieve the objectives while Chi-square was used to test the hypotheses. The mean age of the respondents was 39.2 years. Result revealed that membership in organization, inadequate capital, and source of labour were the factors influencing the level of participation. The major constraints facing the rural women in fish farming were lack of credit facilities and high cost of feeds. Chi-square revealed that membership in organization (p = .017), years of experience (p =.023), were significant to level of participation. The level of participation of rural women in fish farming is high (65.0%). The study recommends that credit facilities at low interest rate should be given to rural women to promote their participation in fish farming and improve the standard of living of the rural family.

Keywords

• participation
• rural women
• fish farming