Title : Factors influencing artisanal fishers household food security in OGUN water side local Governement area ogun state
Abstract:
Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural and fishery resources, but fish catching activities were mostly done through crude tools, this results to relatively low fish catch and increase household food insecurity. The study examined factors influencing artisanal fishers’ household food security in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area. A total of 84 artisanal fishers were randomly selected. Interviewed guide was used to elicit relevant data from the respondents. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential. Results showed that 56.7% of the respondents were male, 50.0% of the respondents were in the productive age (35-45), 81.0% of the respondents had household size of 4 persons. Also, 82.1% of respondents were full time artisanal fishers, 98.8% of the respondents embarked on fish catch trips using plank canoe as means of transportation and gill nets (86.9%) were mostly used to capture fish. Factors influencing households food security were livelihood asset (=2.83), storage and processing (
=2.69), household income level (
=2.69). Majority (98.8%) of the respondents were food secured. Artisanal fishers make use crude tools and their livelihood assets influenced household food security, therefore it was recommended technological equipment could be introduced to artisanal fishers and cost of fishing input can be subsided.