Gender, water quality and catfish production for livelihood support: evidence from catfish farmers in Lagos state, Nigeria

This research was undertaken to examine the gender perspective of Catfish farming as a livelihood base and the issue of water quality using a case study of Lagos state, Nigeria. Primary data elicited from a sample size of 70 Catfish farmers (38 male and 32 female Catfish farmers) were employed in the data. Analysis of the data was done using descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis and Z statistic. The result of the data analysis revealed that the profitability of the male Catfish farmers was higher than that of the female Catfish famers and this implies that women with a lower profitability compared to men will tend to have a lower livelihood support from Catfish production in contrast to men who will tend to have a higher livelihood support from Catfish farming as a result of their higher profit margin. All the women catfish farmers attributed poor water quality to be the major constraints militating against their profitability in Catfish farming and invariably their source of livelihood. It is recommended that mainstreaming gender in manpower training, equitable distribution of resources and access to supportive services should be prioritized towards enhancing their Catfish productivity and improving their livelihood support.