CATFISH FINGERINGS PRODUCTION AND POVERTY REDUCTION IN OWERRI AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF IMO STATE, NIGERIA
Munonye, J.O1 & Okonkwo, V. N2
1Department of Agricultural. Econs and Ext, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Ebonyi State
2Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, Imo State University, Imo State Owerri
*Email:
munojane@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The study examined catfish fingerlings
production and poverty reduction in Owerri Agricultural zone of Imo State. Fish
farming is the production and husbandry of aquatic plants and animals in a
controlled environment. As Nigerian population grows, there is a need for
intensification of fish production to argument the shortage of protein
requirement. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used and forty- five
respondents were purposely selected. Questionnaire was the instrument of data
collection. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The
result showed that number of time fingerlings are produced yearly and number of
male and female brood-stock used were positive and significant at 1% level of
probability. The producers made a net profit of N496, 163.29. The major constraints encountered were high cost of
pond and low quality of brood-stock. The study recommended that credit should
be available to reduce cost of production.
Keywords: Catfish, Fingerlings, Brood-stock and Poverty
