Effects of standard fish processing practices on livelihood status of fish processors in Lagos and Osun States

Abstract

Notwithstanding the advantages that go with utilization of improved fish processing technologies and practices, many fish processors still do not use the improved technologies optimally. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Standard Fish Processing Practices (SFPP) on the livelihood status of fish processors in Lagos and Osun States. Users and non-users of SFPP were sampled in Lagos and Osun States. Sampling of users involved a random selection of 70% from the trained 150 fish processors per state to give a sample size of 105 respondents per state and 210 users for the two states, while snowballing technique was employed to select 150 non-users per state and 300 non-users for the two states to give a total sample size of 510 respondents for the study. Data used for this study were collected through an interview schedule and analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, and T-test. The findings of the study revealed that; higher proportion of SFPP users and non-users were female (67.1%) and (68.3%) respectively. Majority (74.3%) of SFPP users had a high livelihood status whereas above average (56%) of non-users revealed a low livelihood status. There was a positive significant difference (p<0.05) in the livelihoods of users and non-users of SFPP. The study concluded that the usage of SFPP has significantly improved the livelihood status of fish processors in Lagos and Osun states, Nigeria. The study therefore recommended that efforts should be intensified by agricultural extension organizations to increase dissemination of SFPP among non-users in Nigeria.