Structure and Profitability Differentials among Fishermen in Kwara State, Nigeria
Keywords:
Structure, Artisan fishermen, motorised and non-motorised fishingAbstract
The study has three overriding objectives; to assess the structure and profitability differentials among motorised and non-motorised fishing enterprise in Kwara State, Nigeria; to examine the factors influencing net fishing income in artisan fishery and to identify the constraints to artisan fishing in the State. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered at random to 306 artisan fishermen in eight fishing settlements in Kwara State. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics, net margin and ordinary linear regression. The results show artisan fishery enterprises to be profitable, but finds out that fishermen who imbibed motorized gears make more profitable when compared to non-motorised one. Depreciation of fixed assets, cost of labour, fishing hours, experience and household size were factors that influenced variability in net fishing income in the study area. Access to credit stood as the most important constraint in artisan fishermen’s operations. It is therefore concluded that artisan fishermen should adopt improve fishing techniques and motorised gears to increase their income which will ultimately improve their well being and reduce the level of poverty in the study area.
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