Contribution of Women To Fisheries Development in Kainji Lake Basin
Contribution of Women To Fisheries Development in Kainji Lake Basin
Contribution of Women To Fisheries Development in Kainji Lake Basin
By
ABSTRACT
The study was carried out to examine the contribution of women to fisheries development in the
kanji lake basin: The sample was drawn in some of the major fishing villages in the sub strata of
the basin. A total 01 120 respondents were used. The findings revealed that women were involved
in fisheries activities most especially in the processing and marketing aspects. Many of the
respondents happened to be wives of the fishermen. Few bought fishing equipment with a special
arrangement for the supply of fish white some huy from fishermen. This revealed the willingness
of the women to be empowered in the economic activities in the area to meet some basic
household needs although some are still of the opfilion that it is the duty of husband to fend for
the household. Major constraints to the women in this area were the scarcity of fish, no support
from the government or private agencies. Recommendations were made On 1101/4/ to enhance
women participa tion in fisheries development.
INTRODUCTION
The greatest challenges to Africa' agricultural sector are to increase production and the
value of agricultura products. The economic development taken by tropical Africa in the last
century or so is that it has created a twofold dichotomy in the rural division of labour. This
dichotomy is on the one hand between subsistence and cash cropping agriculture and on the
other hand between women and men who inhabit the sector.
In Nigeria, the percentage of economically active female in the agricultural sector is sixty-
eight, and in Gambia it is ninety. In general, African women have the highest female participation
rate in agriculture of all regions in the world since eighty five percent of rural women are involved
and they produce and handle up to eighty percent of the food caten by the families. (Akosua,
1988)
Women are also found in fish processing, distribution and marketing, their role in fishing
cooperatives as financiers to fishermen made them to enjoy high- social statuses in fishing
communities. Their economic prowess and ability to organize into viable units are emphasized.
Adekanye (1988). Chikhi (1984a), Lopez (1984), Meeran (1984) among others report on the role
of women in fishery cooperatives, the cultural factor affecting their participation in fishery related
activities and possibilities for improving their earnings. Akerele (1979) asserts that Liberian
women play a vital role in fish marketing but earn marginal profits because of competition from
expatriate wholesalers.
Chikhi (1984b) reports on study of socio-economic environment of fishermen wives in
seven fishing communities in Benin and discusses their needs in terms of the formation of
cooperatives and provision of credit schemes. Eeles (1984) looks at various initiatives that could
improve the socio- economic status of women in fishing communities in Benin. Lacarme (1985)
highlights the fact that in Dakar, Senegal the importance of women in fish processing and
marketin is down played because the men monopolize power, are better educated and control
credit facilities.
VVomen also play an important role in aquaculture production. Bernadette (1989)
describes their role in this activity, using examples to show that limited time, lack of ownership of
land and unavailability of credit are some of the factors limiting the involvement of women in
aquaculture she proposed that women should be included as a target group in extension and
training activities. Women take part in actual production in most types of aquaculture brackish
9I
water or freshwater fish ponds, fish farms or fish cages-whether on extensive, semi intensive or
intensive level on a small, medium or large scale and in various stages of fish farm development
(planning, construction and actual operation) and from seed production to grow, rearing,.
harvesting and post harvest handling.
Trottier (1987) states that women are, therefore a good target group for fish farming
development for the following reasons:
v Because of their children, women are less likely than men to be away from home for long
periods; therefore, they can give continual attention to pond husbandry if the ponds are
close.
Because they are accustomed to daily routine, women are more likely to provide the
constant attention required for good husbandry and can use a variety of by- products
(such as kitchen wastes, weeds and crop residues for composting.
Because a typical fishpond does not provide full employment, women can accommodate
fish farming tasks to other duties.
It is in the light of these that this paper is examining the contributions of women to fisheries
development in the kainji lake basin with the following specific objectives:
To lotate what position women occupy in fisheries around the lake.
v To establish on how their participation contribute to the development of fisheries in the
area.
To identify the deterrents to the contributions they make.
v To identify factors to be employed to improve their contribution.
METHODOLOGY
The studv area
The study was carried out in lake kainji, which was formed by damming the river Niger at Kainji
Island. The dam was completed on 2na August 1968 and the reservoir created behind it has a
surface area of 1,120 km2 at maximum level. The lake is 137km wide and its geographical
position is 104 °-155°N. 40 45'E (Welcomme, 1972). Although the lake was formed majorly for
hydroelectricity generation, it also offers great opportunities for artisanal fishery.
The study covered each of the sub strata of the basin by targeting the major fishing
communities, which include, Matale, Buka Dubu, kokoli, Maigwagware, Dugamashaya, Hikiya,
Pasatulu, Tunga Alhaji Shekare, Tunga Allhaji Danbaba, Tunga Baushe, Sakejikinka, Tunga
Alhaji Angulu, Anfani, Tunga Gungawa, Maiwindi, Wara, Gafara Baban Tunga, Kuka-uku, Raishe,
and Rukubalo. A total of 120 respondents were sampled. 6 respondents from each of the villages.
The study was subjected to descriptive statistics for analysis.
Aba, Port Harcourt etc. From the findings, an adequate support should be focused towards
women in fisheries development.
There is this common saying that "what a man can do, a woman wiil do it better". In
reality, vvhoever has power and authority in a household determines the household functions. It is
no longer a taboo or out of place that women in northern Nigeria cannot play an active role in
farm activities. Today, in kainji lake basin women are not only into processing and marketing
alone but are found in fish catch to the extent of owning boat for the economic activities. On the
description of the newfound life style, 54% of the respondents agreed that the acti\ety is pleasant
while about 46% agreed that is unpleasant. The reasons for this may not be far 'fetched,
considering the role as a mother, the bulk of domestic work in the home and the number cf hours
involved in fishing activities, it is not easy but the family must survive. With cultural and religious
understanding of the northern Nigeria, one may think it will be an impossible thing to get take off
capital to buying fish amcng the women, some are wives to the fishermen and are into
partnership with their husbands. On the other hand, about 17% of the respondents used mone.iy
from their saving to embark on the business. Due to civilization and the clamouring or vvornen
empowerment; today, most women in urban areas are into one economic activities or the other as
a form of relief to prevent total dependency on the husbands. Likewise, in fishing communities
husbands have taken it upon themselves to encourage their wives. It is in the light of this that
about 21% of the respondents claimed that their husbands gave them the capital to start the
business. 79% of the respondents attested that it has not debarred them from household
activities. About 21% of the respondents signified trading goes along with their fishing activities.
Processing of fish is a tedious work, which requires more hands, about 95% of the respondents,
used family labour and less than 5% hired labour. This confirms that the large household size
constitutes the labour used in their activities. More than half of the respondents said the reasons
for involvement in fisheries activities is for their self-gain. Only 39% of them said it's a way of
contributing and maintaining the household. None of the respondents saw it as hobby. Little
attention has been given women extension programme, this reflects in the results that 83% of the
respondent got training \ information from parents. This could be because of the culture in study
area that men are not allowed discriminately to enter their compounds. (See table 2)
Money accruing from their activities is used for various purposes such as replacement of
worn out equipment, expansion of their activities and family upkeep. About 48% of the
respondents plough the money back into the business, it is still their believe that it is the sole
responsibility of the husbands to fend for household. About 26% of the respondents said at times
part of the proceeds is used for petty needs of the home. Only about 7% of them who are in
towns belonged to welfare association used part of money to pay their dues.. This is done for
security reasons (see figure 1).
The ability of women to generate income also depends on the extent to which they
participate in the decision making process at all levels, including the highest national level. In this
regard, they are constrained by a number of factors (Duncan, 1999). Among such constraints is
the Scarcity of fish, which may be caused by nature or insensitive approach to fisheries
management. On Man-made issues, inadequate fund has been the major problem of the women,
poor market. is another constraint. This might be linked to restriction on women by men, which
foster the participation of middlemen who eventually make money from their activities. Although
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the women are keen with availability of infrastructure, only few respondents mentioned it as a
problem. This is a general phenomenon in many of the fishing communities. No primary school,
some of their children walk some distance before they can find school. What obtained in the study
corroborates with the constraints identified. by Spore (1993) that women come up against all sorts
of difficulties in their attempts to be seen as agents of development in their own right.
CONCLUSION
The cultural perception of women as second- class citizens at birth continues through to
old age. Changing these perceptions is proving elusive, as ,they permeate every facet of society.
The promotion of women's participation in fisheries development can make significant
contribution to building women's confidence and building confidence in the role of women.
Based on the findings of this study, one can infer that women are involved in fisheries activities in
the study area. As such, sustainability of fisheries development programme would be greatly
improved if the field experience of women were made known, when their views and needs were
ascertained. Women were found to have the tendency to respond positively to new innovations
brought to them. An improvement in technological facilities for the enterprise would aid sourqe of
funds and help increase output. It will also improve the earning of the women thereby alleviating
poverty among them and their dependents. Moreover, it will help to improve the nation' economy
generally.
In order to attain the goal of enhancing the involvement of women in sustainable fisheries
development, the following recommendations are made:
Female extension services or programmes should be encouraged in the kainji lake
basin
,te More women should be engaged in fisheries development programmes with inclusion
of sufficient gender- specific training and considerations.
Women should be trained not only to perceive the situation they are in but also to
understand how to escape from the ocean of poverty and to improve their own
statues so that they can function effectively in promoting rural development.
Women should be organized first for credit assistance, then into their own
cooperatives where they will be enlightened on self-help, self-determination and self-
administration to make an on-slaught in mass poverty and destitution.
REFEI3ENCES
Adekanye, T.O. (1988). Rural fish marketing in Africa. Some empirical considerations from
Nigeria, journal of rural dept. Korea 6(1) 77-85.
Akerele, O (1979). Women in the fishing industry in Liberia; measures of women's participation.
Econs. Comm. Africa Research Service, 4.
Akosua, A Aidoo (1988) women and food security: The opportunity for Africa Development 1988
2/3 Journal of SID.
Bernadette, T. (1989) Women in aquaculture production in West Africa. In summary of
proceedings and selected papers, symposium on the Development and management of
fisheries in small water bodies. Accra, Ghana, 7-8 Deer 1987, M. Giasson and J.L.
Gaudet (eds). FAO fish Rapport No,425: 129-138.
Chik,hi, M. (1984a) Rapport de Finde mission project "cooperatives des Femmes de pecheurs
pour la Transformation at la commercialisation du poissori". Republique populaive du
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Chikhi, M (1984b) Essai d' etude socio economique du milieu des Femmes de pecheurs.
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Appendix:
Socio economic characteristics
Age Frequency
20 30 10 8.3
31 40 47 39.2
41 50 45 37.5
Above 50 18 15.0
Total 120 100
Marital status Frequency
Single - -
Married 93 77.5
Divorced 7 5.8
Widowed 20 16.7
Total 120 100
House hold size Frequency
1 5 5 4.2
6-10 45 37,5
, 11 15 J
48 40.0
16 - 20 4 22 18.0
Total i
120 100
Education Frequency
Formal 13 10.8
Quranic 107 89.2
Total 120 100
Experience (years) Frequency
1 5 j 8 6.7
6-10 35 29.2
11 15 30 25.0
16 20 34 28.3
Above 20 I 13
Total 120 100
95
00
50
20
10
Unpleasant 55 45.8
Total 120 100
r Take. off capitalFrequency %
Savings _
Contribution 75 62.5
Govt. Assistance -
Financial Institution
Husband 25 20.8
Total 120 100
Other activities involved in Frequency %
Farming
; Providing House hold water and fuel 95 79.2
wood I
Trading i 25 20.8
Total 1 120 100
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Source of labour, trainin , ri ht association and reason for activities
Source of labour Frequency % 1
Self 90
_ .. _ _. 75_. . .
Children 25 20.8
Hired labour 5 T 4.2
Others - -
_ Total 120 . 1_100
Training Frequency %
_E ionxtens
.
agents 15
Posters 2
Parents 100 I
97