Socio-Economic Characteristics Of Fish Farmers Accessing Agricultural Credits In Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Odinwa A B
Department of Agricultural Education, Federal College of Education (Technical), PMB 11, Omoku, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Enoch I
Department of Agricultural Science, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Ekeogu C O
Department of Agricultural Science, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Odinwa A N
Department of Agricultural Education, Federal College of Education (Technical), PMB 11, Omoku, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Keywords: Socio-economic characteristics, Fish farmers, Access, Agricultural credits
Abstract
Socio-economic characteristics of fish farmers accessing agricultural credits was investigated in Bayelsa State, Nigeria The objective was to describe the socio-economic characteristics of the registered fish farmers and the extent to which fish farmer’s access agro-credits available in Bayelsa State. Descriptive survey design was used to elicit information using questionnaire and group interviews from a cross section of fishers in the area of study. Multi stage and purposive sampling techniques were engaged at the initial stages to choose the three LGAs. Proportionate random sampling technique was also used to select 10% from the sample frame of 1,116 fish farmers to arrive at one hundred and eleven (111) respondents as sample size for the study. Data collected were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics used includes percentage, arithmetic mean and the weighted mean scores obtained from the Likert type rating scale. The inferential statistics used were the simple linear regression and the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for test of significance at 0.05% probability level. The results showed that greater part of the registered fish farmers in Bayelsa State were men (70.27%) with mean age of 45 years old; majority of them were married (82%) and had formal education (84%). It revealed poor regularity of farmers’ contact with extension agents (quarterly contact (55.86%) and a mean annual income of N281, 721.00 for the fish farmers in the study area. The regression result indicated that: Years of experience (1.896*), nature of farming (1.789*), farm size (number of ponds (1.632*), regularity of contact with extension agents (1.560*), sex of farmers (1.430*), annual income (1.400*) and Level of education (1.292*) had positive correlation with farmers’ access to agricultural credits in the area at 5% significant level. The results on the extent of accessing agricultural credits by fish farmers in Bayelsa State indicated cumulatively low access (CM =1.77) to formal agricultural credits, but personal savings (GM = 2.69), loan from relatives /friends (GM = 2.66), loan from Money lenders (GM = 2.65) and loan from Co-operative societies (GM = 2.41), among few others recorded high access in the study area. Test of significance on farmers’ level of access to agricultural credits, also showed no meaningful difference in the group means. The study therefore, recommended that: Women and youths be aroused and encouraged to participate in fish farming enterprises in Bayelsa State, Revolving agricultural credits should be made available and accessible to fish farmers by the State government and non government organizations in Bayelsa State, and Extension services should be beefed up to cover supervision and recouping of government revolving agricultural credits in Bayelsa State.