Assessment of the training needs of artisanal fishers’ in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the training needs of artisanal fishers’ in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State Nigeria. All the artisanal fishers at Oloko fishing settlement in Asa local Government Area of Kwara state were selected for the study. Data were collected with the use of interview schedule and analysed using frequency, percentage and mean. Results show that mean age of the fishers was 37.4 years, all the respondents were married, 85.7 % had no formal education, the mean years of experience was 20.8 and the average monthly income was ?31, 571 naira. The areas of training needs identified in this study were canoe/boat safety
navigation measures (10.6), Fish marketing/ distribution (10. 21), canoe handling and maintenance (9.15), Construction of cast and gill net (8.9), use of cast and gill net (8.8). The major occupational health hazards of the respondents were back/general body pain (4.7), chest pain (4.6), boat capsizing/ water accident (3.9), minor cuts and scrapes (3.6) and exposure to sunburn during work (3.2). The study recommended that government should provide agricultural extension workers and health officers to educate artisanal fishers on the identified areas of training needs.