Evaluation of Attitudinal Risk of Homestead Fish Farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study evaluates the attitudinal risk of homestead fish farming in Kogi State, Nigeria. Specific objectives are to describe the socio-economic characteristics of homestead fish farmers, estimate costs and returns associated with homestead farming, examine associated risk and mitigating strategies against risk and to determine the problems affecting homestead fish farming in the study area. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 210 fish farmers. Primary data were used. Descriptive statistics, cost and return concept, factor analysis were used to analyse the data. The results revealed that the mean age was 37.67years, 62.9% were male, and 70.5% of the famers were married. Majority (86.7%) had no extension contact. The total revenue per farm /per annum was ₦495,569.8. The risk associated with fish farming were drought (x=3.99) and poor power supply (x=3.97) while the strategies used in mitigating against risk were Adequate contact with extension agents (x=4.93) and breeding of improved breed of fingerlings(x=4.89). The major problems were inadequate extension service and high costs of fingerlings with agein value of 0.67 and 0.65 respectively. It was recommended that, there should be adequate extension contact in order to acquaint fish farmers with technical information to increase productivity and livelihood status.