Women at Center of Sustainable Aquaculture: The Case of Nigeria

By Nene Amabere Jamabo*
There has been a lot of efforts in recent times geared towards the empowerment of women in the agricultural sector particularly in Africa.

Women are responsible for half of the world’s food production in most developing countries.

However, women’s fundamental contribution is continually under appreciated and under supported, and is often adversely affected by prevailing economic policies and other development conditions. These circumstances must be reversed and the time is now.

Sustainable rural development through agriculture cannot be achieved without the full participation of women.

There is a need, however, to also consider increasing efforts in encouraging women to get involved in fish culture enterprises because of the benefits. Fish is the cheapest source of animal protein and it is available in different forms: frozen, dried, smoked or fresh.

The nutritional benefits from aquaculture and fish consumption need to be fully documented and promoted through education and health programs, be it formal or informal, focusing on women in particular as key decision makers.

Fish has become a leading commodity with an export value of US$ 2.7 billion annually for Africa as a whole. To cite the case of Nigeria, over 70 per cent of fish consumed in this west African nation is imported at a cost of about N25 billion (US$ 169 million) as at 2005. Total aquaculture production in Nigeria is about 25,000 tons per annum (about 6 per cent) of domestic production.

In the past, the focus of the government was on small scale fish farming for private entrepreneurs and government fish farms, but today, Nigeria is benefiting from an emerging commercial catfish farming industry, which is transforming the long dormant aquaculture sector in the country.

The market forces of demand far outstripping supply have resulted in the aggressive involvement of the private sector by the expansion and renovation of existing farms and investments in few fish farms and hatcheries.

This has brought the industry to a retail production value of over N180 million (US$ 1.2 million) annually. Therefore, having seen it as a business for profit, fish farming is now a sustainable agricultural activity in Nigeria.

Studies show that women play vital roles in fishing and marketing.

Women participate extensively and actively in all phases of work performed on fish farms throughout West Africa. They are more engaged in processing, preservation and marketing (F.A.O, 2000).

The great majority of female fish farmers are wives and mothers who help in disposing of the harvest from catch of their husbands. Women are good fish farmers in African countries because they are patient, meticulous and diligent. The lack of training and opportunity for obtaining credit are the main constraints preventing more women from practicing fish production and marketing.

Benefits of women’s participation in aquaculture:
Increased fish availability for family consumption, thus benefiting good nutrition in protein supplement. Improved economic situation of the family resulting from increased fish production. Upliftment of social status in alleviating poverty. Employment of labor.

Children’s education sustained because of improved family income Productive use of time.
Increase status and participation in various decision-making process within the family.

Gender issues that hinder women’s participation in sustainable aquaculture development

The participation of women in agricultural production (including fish production) is generally not yet recognized in both national and international policies. Many of the agricultural programs or policies lack strategies for reaching women.

Less than 1 per cent of projects of Food and Agricultural Organization (F.A.O) are meant for reaching women, the United Nations system as a whole has less than 4 per cent of the projects being beneficial to women.

Achieving gender equality by empowering rural women is vital since they are crucial partners in the fight against HIV/AIDS, hunger and poverty.

Societal and cultural issues can affect the participation of women in aquaculture. These issues need to be addressed through the formulation of plans suitable for various social and cultural environments.

These issues are:
Lack of sensitivity to and respect for gender roles and responsibilities is a common problem.
Low literacy rates among women hamper information acquisition.

Data on women involvement in aquaculture is not available and policies and programs often are not gender sensitive.

Men generally participate (and dominate) in trainings and cross-visits, excluding women from gaining access to information and from the decision making process.

Lack of land ownership, thus limiting access and control over the resources.

Many agencies aim to improve women’s status by increasing their access to credit. However, credit is not always accompanied by provision of skills. Thus women only serve as conduit for men to procure loans.

Recommendations and conclusion:
African governments should institute developmental programs for rural women which will bring better living conditions.

More credit facilities should be made available to women farmers to tap into the vast resources.

Furthermore, governments can provide working capital through proper organization and coordination of Multipurpose and Cooperative Societies (MCPS), community based organizations (CBOs) and non-governmental Organizations (NGOs).

To promote the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on wealth and job creation, education and entrepreneurial skills should be given to women farmers. Wuruola (2001) is of the opinion that if women are given the right education, they will be equipped with the necessary skill and knowledge that will make them compete favorably with men in nation building.

Educating women will also enable them organize their businesses in a way that will yield better profits.

*Dr Nene Amabere Jamabo, an expert in fisheries management and aquaculture, teachers at the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Image credit: Aurimas Rimsa/ Flickr