Gender Roles and Constraints in Aquaculture Biosecurity in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

Adoption of proper biosecurity practices that could assist in averting fish disease crisis is needed for sustainable fish farming to bridge the fish demand-supply gap in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Fish farmers in the state were partial adopters because of financial constraints. This study aimed to examine gendered roles and constraints in adopting aquaculture biosecurity measures in Ekiti State. 150 fish farmers were randomly interviewed using structured questionnaires in the three ADP zones in the state and only 144 were retrieved. Mean, Likert scale and T-Test were employed. The findings revealed that only 24.3% of the respondents have access to loan. Egg/fry disinfection (54.9%), quarantine (53.5%), water quality monitoring (54.9%) and pond maintenance (42.4%) were considered men roles, while movement control (40.3%), disposal of dead fish (47.9%), record keeping (56.9%) and treatment/ proper feeding (50.0%) with daily fish observation (45.1%) were assigned to women. Moreover, laboratory analysis (2.2708), use of disinfectants and PPE (2.1806), equipment disinfection (2.1667), medical consultation (2.1597), and facility for changing/ shower/ toilet (2.1458), predator/pest control (2.1389), and purchase of disease-free seedlings (2.0417), quarantine (2.0069) and use of signs/maps (2.0069) were expensive for them to adopt. There is a significant difference between gender and the constraints they faced in adopting biosecurity measures because the F-calculated is 0.890 (t = 0.019, df = 23.459, mean of the biosecurity constraints faced by the men is 2.3968 and std is .56780, while the mean for the women is 2.2667, whereas std is .54131. This study concluded that both genders were faced with financial constraints in adopting proper biosecurity measures with women being the most disadvantaged. It is therefore recommended that both genders need to be given adequate and impartial support so that they can be able to adopt efficient biosecurity measures that could promote sustainable fish production.