Challenges of Youths Involved in Fish Farming in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

This study determined the challenges of youths involved in fish farming inthe Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select and interview a total of 54 youth fish farmers from18 villages in three area councils of the FCT, Abuja. Results of the analysis were presented using percentage, frequency counts, and mean scores. Results reveal that majority (57.4%) of the respondents had fish farming as their major occupation. The major species of fish farmed in the area was Clariasgariepinus (African Catfish). Other types included Heterobranchusspp (Sampa catfish), Heteroclariasspp (a hybrid of Clariasgariepinus and Heterobranchusspp), Tilapia spp (tilapia) and Cyprinuscarpio (carp). The majority (87%) of respondents adopted the monoculture system of fish production. However, the major challenges faced by the youths were high cost of feed (=2.76) and poor access to credit facilities (=2.17). The farmers’ perceived solutions to the challenges wereaccess to loans and grants, provision of feed subsidy, access to affordable land, provision of infrastructure (such as good roads, better markets, and better power supply), proper training of fish farmers on management practices, increased research and extension services. The study points to the need for public-private partnership intervention geared towards improving the entrepreneurial drive of the youths through focused training and other empowerment activities to enable them address the challenges facing fish farmers in the area.