ASSESSMENT OF CATFISH FARMERS’ ORGANISATIONS

ABSTRACT

The study centered on assessment of catfish farmers’ organisations in Ikpoba-Okha local government Area, Edo state Nigeria. This study focused majorly on examining the nature of services provided by farmer organisations in the catfish industry to their members, and the challenges they face in the course of meeting their members’ needs. The specific objectives were to: examine the socio-economic characteristics of fish farmers and the profile of catfish farmers organisations in Ikpoba-Okha local government area Edo state; to identify the services provided by the catfish farmers organisations to their members; to examine farmers’ attitude towards services provided by farmer organisation; and to identify the challenges encountered by the catfish farmers organisations in meeting the needs of their members. The research is a qualitative study and so the sampling procedure was purposive and convenient sampling. Uteh fish farming cluster was purposively selected because of concentration of fish farms in these communities. The farmers chosen were based on the convenience to meet with them. Twelve catfish farmers and three catfish farmers’ organizations were selected for the study. The data collected through in-depth interviews were recorded with the permission of the respondents. The recordings were translated and copied into NVivo. Using a deductive approach and using existing literature to create initial conceptual and terminological framework. The coding and analysis were carried out. The transcripts were read over and again to gain understanding before the utterances were assigned to one thematic area or the other. Memos and annotations were made and meanings and arrangement from them written. The transcript read again and re-coding was done to give the categories presented. The result showed that majority (63.3%) of the farmers were within the ages of 36-45 years, majority of the farmers were educated. The farmers’ organisations were found to have membership capacity of about 100 to 383, they source their funds from membership dues and government grants. The most foremost services seen by farmers to be provided by the farmer organization is to link them to government, and major challenges that farmer organizations face in meeting the needs of the farmers in the study area are membership problem. It was recommended that existing farmers’ organisations should be strengthened by government and Non-Governmental Organisations.