Agricultural and Information Needs and Utilization among Migrant Fishermen by Gender: A Study of Isoko Reverie Community, Delta State, Nigeria Otolo Patience Uzezi PhD, Delta State University, Oleh Campus, Delta State, Nigeria otolouzezi@gmail.com ABSTARCT This study investigated the agricultural information needs and use among literate and non-literate migrant fishermen in Isoko Reverie areas of Delta State, Nigeria. The study employed the descriptive survey design. The population for the study involved all the migrant further men in the Isoko speaking reverie areas (235 in all) when constituted the sample of the study. Questionnaire method was used for collecting data. A total of 235 copies of questionnaire were distributed to all the migrant fishermen. Out of this number, 215 (92%) copies of the questionnaire were retrieved from the respondents and used for the study. Frequency counts and simple percentages were used to analyze data. Results revealed that majority of literate and non-literate migrant fishermen agreed that they needed some agricultural information that how to control water hyacinths. They also needed agricultural information mostly on where to get fishing gear, the purpose of using agricultural information included better methods of fishing, how to obtain and use storage faculty, modern methods of fishing, how to obtain and use storage faculty, modern methods of fish harvesting etc. Their sources of agricultural information included pursuit experiences, neighbors/friends etc. The study revealed problems encountered while seeking agricultural information included lack of good roads to reverie areas, lack of visits by agricultural extension offices, high cost and maintenance of mobile phone. It was recommended that government should construct good roads for reverie villages to enhance easy movement to migrant fishermen. Adequate information communication system should be provided for smooth flow of information. Boat libraries should be established to enhance information dissemination in reverie areas to reduce illiteracy level of non-literate migrant fishermen. Keywords: Agricultural, Information needs Male, Female, Migrant, Fishermen. 1. INTRODUCTION The migrant fishermen are those who live in reverie parts of Nigeria stretching from Abia, Akwa- Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Rivers, to some other states in the Federation such as Borno, Niger. They migrate from their autonomous communities in search of fish as dictated by the type of fish required in the seasons, the movement of the tide or the season of the year (Tawari, 2002). Members of fishing families migrate from one fishing village to another. Thus in carrying out fishing activities, men, women and children participate, while adult men and boys engage actively in fishing, women and girls participate actively in fish processing, preservation and marketing (Onakomaiya, 1990). The time and direction of migration are usually and virtually determined by periodic shifting of fishing activities from a less yielding to a more 'fertile' location. Wives and children are taken along during each movement. At the settlement, the fathers (the fishermen) go fishing, with their grown-up male children offering helping hands. The wives (excepting windows that have to go fishing themselves from time to time) and their female children stay back to smoke the fish, sell available catches to buyers and prepare food for their families (Tawari 2002). Munyua (2000) regarded information as the least expensive input for rural development, and it can also be viewed as a basic, necessary ingredient for bringing about social and economic change in rural areas (Morris 2000). Fishermen need to have information on specific supplies required for their fishing activities. They will need to know, where, when and how to obtain mechanical equipment and use modern fishing gear, fertilizer to improve productivity and to control water hyacinths. They will also require information on how to use mechanical equipment; on fish preservation, storage and processing and how to obtain credit facilities. Gillett and Lightfoot (2001) agreed that gender affects agricultural information needs and utilization. For the purpose of this study gender does not refer to women, rather, it refers to the socially or culturally established roles of women, men and children which means they can share roles and complement one another. Understanding the roles of both men and women gives a complete picture of agricultural production system. Generally, women engage in many types of fishing from deep sea fishing alongside men and community fishing to reef gleaning and fresh water trapping activities. Traditionally however, women are much more involved in fishing activities in shallow area shore waters while men's fishing activities are focused on deep sea areas (Gillet& Lightfoot 2001). Now, the question is, how satisfactory are agricultural information needs of migrant fishermen by gender and to what extent are the migrant fishermen in reverie communities satisfied with information needs and utilization, benefits and extent of satisfaction with agricultural information among fishermen in reverie communities of Delta State, Nigeria. 2. LITERATURE REVIEW An understanding of fishing groups and their needs make for effective use of agricultural information in 263
rural development. Because information plays such as important role in almost every human activity, its value in the development process has been a topic of extensive debate. Aboyade (1987) & (Adimorah 1984), emphasized on importance of information needs of rural dwellers require information. To success in this, requires, first of all, an analysis of the rural/reverie communities, identification of their information needs and the deployment of resources to meet their needs. Migrant fishermen need a wide range of information on modern fishing gear; fishers are caught by traps, hooks, nets, lines, trawlers, etc. Traditionally, but with agricultural information, modern technologies would be applied which will result in high productivity (Tawari 2002).In the reverie areas, fishing constitutes important means of livelihood for the people which engage in as important providers for subsistence needs to the family. Social economic studies have shown that women are very active in the production, processing and postharvest handling as well as marketing of fish bi-product (Brandt, 1984). The contention that women in fishing communities are not economically active is arguable. Even though, tradition and superstition which linked women with poor catches inhibit their involvement in direct fishing, they are known to perform essential but generally under estimate role in fisheries-related activities such as unloading, sorting, gutting, net-mending, processing, distribution and marketing (FAO, 2004). Research has shown that rural dwellers who are agrarian (fish farming and animal rearing) retrieve their required information from various sources. According to Njoku (2004), married and male adult fishermen sources of information include colleagues, friends, neighbors, and relatives. According to Ikoja-Odongo (2001), word of mouth is the preferred method because the majority of them interact with each other, with local administrators, and business associates. Most fishing camps are associated with the following problems: Problems of transportation both personal (for fishing) and commercial (for movement from fishing camps to big towns and villages). There are some sedentary communities plied by commercial boats only once a week. If one is unfortunate to miss the boat on that day, it means waiting till same day the following week. You can therefore imagine what the migrant fisherfolk suffer. Other problems include: Lack of portable drinking water, lack of electricity, unavailability of modern fishing gears, erosion, oil pollution which affects the fishes and their only sources of drinking water, flood, inadequate attention from government, mosquitoes, testes flies and warps, non-availability of loan, but where it is available (as in the case of the indigenous osusu method) the interest rate is exorbitant and lack of storage facilities (Tawari 2002). This study will therefore fill a lot of information gaps by focusing on agricultural information needs and utilization among migrant fishermen by gender. 3. RESEARCH QUESTION The study sought to answer the following research questions: a. What are the agricultural information needs of migrant fishermen in Isokoriverine communities, by gender? b. What are the sources of agricultural information consulted by migrant fishermen by gender? c. What are the problems encountered by both gender of migrant fishermen while seeking agricultural information? 4. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The main purpose of this study was to find out the agricultural information needs and use among migrant fishermen in Isoko reverie communities, Delta State, Nigeria. Specifically, this study sets out to: a. Determine the agricultural information needs of migrant fishermen in isoko reverie communities by gender. b. Identify the sources of agricultural information consulted by migrant fishermen by gender. c. Find out the problems encountered by both gender of migrant fishermen while seeking agricultural information. 5. METHODOLOGY Descriptive survey was used for the study. The population of the study consisted of all the migrant fishermen, 235 in number in nine (9) reverie communities of Delta State, Nigeria. The sample for the study consisted of the whole population since the population was not too large. The instrument that was employed for data collection was the questionnaire. A questionnaire entitled "Agricultural Information needs and utilization Questionnaire (AINUQ") was designed by the researcher. Copies of the questionnaire was personally administered to all the migrant fishermen in the various communities with the assistant of trained researcher to help administer, read and interpret in native language and to assist to complete the questionnaire for the non-literate migrant fishermen. The data were analyzed using frequency counts and simple percentages. 6. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION Table 1: Gender of the Responsibility Gender No. of respondents Percentages Male 155 72% Female 60 28% Total 215 100% 264
The distribution of the respondents according to gender with 155 (72%) male and 60 (25%) female. Table 1 shows that male migrant fishermen are most in number than their female counterparts in this study. This shows that both male and female fishermen engage actively in fishing activity in Isoko reverie areas. This finding agrees with (Njoku 2004). Table 2: Agricultural Information needs of Migrant Fishermen by Gender Information needs Gender Where to get fishing gears Male 143 92 12 8 - - 155 100 Female 56 93 4 3 - - 60 100 How to obtain credit/loan facilities Male 141 91 13 8 1 1 155 100 Female 58 97 1 2 1 2 60 100 How to control water hyacinths Male 142 92 13 8 - - 155 100 Female 52 87 8 13 - - 60 100 Where to sell fish/fish products Male 101 65 53 34 1 1 155 100 Female 49 82 8 13 3 5 60 100 How and where to store/preserve fish Male 122 79 31 20 2 1 155 100 Female 53 88 6 10 1 2 60 100 Improved method of fishing/ Techniques Male 135 87 16 12 2 1 155 100 Female 57 95 2 3 1 2 60 100 Where to get fertilizer Male 34 35 89 57 12 8 155 100 Female 10 47 44 73 6 10 60 100 The analyzed data in Table 2 reveal that majority of the respondents 143(92%) males 51 (95%) female; need information on where to get fishing gears, one of the possible reasons for this is that the fishermen depend on the gears for fishing activities. With respect to how to control water hyacinths, the male respondents had the higher responses of 142(92%), as against the female 52(87%). The table reveals both 141(91%) of male respondents and 52(97%) of female respondents agreed that both need agricultural information on how to obtain credit/loan facilities. The table also reveals 122(79%) of the male and 53(88%) of the female respondents agreed that both need agricultural information on how and where to store/preserves fish. The table shows that there is no difference in information need between both genders; both need a wide range of agricultural information. Table 3: Sources of information consulted by migrant fishermen by gender Sources of information Gender Personal experience Male 146 94 8 5 1 1 155 100 Female 57 95 2 3 1 2 60 100 Extension officers Male 52 34 95 61 8 5 155 100 Female 11 18 48 80 1 2 60 100 Television Male 19 12 132 87 2 1 155 100 Female 6 1-0 53 88 1 2 60 100 Radio Male 41 27 112 72 2 1 155 100 Female 13 22 46 77 1 2 60 100 Newspapers Male 40 26 111 72 4 3 155 100 Female 9 15 50 83 1 2 60 100 Library Male 20 13 131 85 4 3 155 100 Female 2 3 131 95 1 1 155 100 Neighbors/friends Male 154 99 - - 1 1 155 10 Female 59 98 1 2 - - 60 100 Exhibition/show Male 16 10 135 87 4 3 155 100 Female 6 10 49 82 5 8 60 100 Fishery/department Male 27 17 124 80 40 3 155 100 Female 8 13 48 80 4 7 60 100 community meetings Male 123 79 29 19 3 2 155 100 265
Female 50 83 8 13 2 3 60 100 Telephone/mobile phone Male 92 59 60 39 3 2 155 100 Female 23 38 35 58 2 3 60 100 Table 3 reveals the main sources of agricultural information used by migrant fishermen. The figures revealed that personal experiences 146(94%) male, 57(95%) female; Neighbors/friends 154(99%) male, 59(98%) female; and community meetings, 123 (79%) male, 50(83%) female are the main sources of information used by migrant fishermen. Fewer male and female migrant fish farmers indicated the use of television 19(12%) male, 6(10%) female; 20(13%) male, 2(3%) female used library; while 16(10%) female used exhibition/show. These findings corroborate that of Bargo (1996), who asserted that the majority of the male, old and married fish farmers got fish farming information through radio and television. Table 4: Problems encountered while seeking agricultural information by gender Problems Gender Lack of visitation by Male 140 90 9 6 6 4 155 100 agricultural extension officers Female 55 92 5 8 - - 60 100 Non-literacy Male 63 41 90 58 2 1 155 100 Female 40 67 17 28 3 5 60 100 Lack of agricultural Male 73 47 81 52 1 1 166 100 information materials in native languages Female 44 73 14 23 2 3 60 100 Lack of personal radio Male 142 92 13 8 - - 155 100 Female 41 68 16 27 3 5 60 100 Lack of personal television Male 141 91 14 9 - - 155 100 Female 40 67 17 28 3 5 60 100 Lack of nearby library Male 114 74 28 18 13 8 155 100 Female 39 65 14 23 7 12 60 100 Lack of good roads to reverie Male 145 93 9 6 1 1 155 100 villages Female 55 92 3 5 2 3 60 100 Information is too complex Male 76 49 38 25 41 26 155 100 Female 18 30 16 27 26 43 60 100 I do not have skills to use the Male 54 35 44 28 57 37 155 100 internet Female 22 37 8 13 30 50 60 100 I do not have mobile Male 134 86 21 14 - - 155 100 phone/handsets Female 57 95 3 5 - - 60 100 High cost of mobile Male 140 90 10 7 5 3 155 100 services/information Female 56 93 4 7 1 2 60 100 technology facilities Results from the data in table 4 shows that both gender agreed with the problem of lack of good roads to the reverie villages as a factor that militates against agricultural information utilization. The table reveals that 145(93%) male and 55(92%) female; agreed to the factor. The majority of migrant fishermen agreed to irregular visits by extension officers 140(90%) male, 55(92%) female; lack of personal radio, 142(92%) male, 41(68%) female; lack of nearby library, 114(74%) male, 39*(65%) female; as factors militating against utilization of information. Also, a few of migrant fishermen disagreed that literacy, 90(58%) male, 17(28%) female; and use of internet 44(28%) male, 8(13%) female; are factors that militate against utilization of agricultural information. The possible reasons could be due to the fact that awareness has not been created by government and also lack of electricity in reverie villages to facilitate effective utilization of information. 7. CONCLUSION It could be concluded from the findings of the study that in Isokoriverine communities of Delta State, both male and female migrant fishermen need information. The information acquired and utilized would help both genders of migrant fishermen to improve in fish production, to improve on their fishing techniques, to improve on how to use modern fishing gears, acquire and use storage facilities and to apply modern methods of harvesting. The migrant fishermen studied have shown that both genders utilized personal experiences as source of 266
information. There are problems and challenges that militate against migrant fishermen by gender which should be tackled. Such problems included lack of good roads to reverie communities, lack of visits by extension officers, lack of personal radio and television, lack of nearby library as well as lack of internet connectivity, as some of the major challenges militating against the use of information. 8. RECOMMENDATION In the light of the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made. a. Government should provide special allocation of funds towards improvement of agriculture, especially in the area of fishing to enable migrant fishermen acquire basic fishing implements needed for fishing activity. b. There should be provision for extension workers to be sent to the reverie communities to train and retrain fishermen on how to use agricultural information to improve fish production. c. Both genders of migrant fishermen should be encouraged to utilize agricultural information. Librarian and extension workers should examine the sources of information utilized by male and female migrant fishermen to ensure that information is disseminated through the most appropriate sources or channels. d. Government should provide adequate information and communication system network such as internet connectivity, mobile phones etc. in the reverie community to facilitate information dissemination among the migrant fishermen. e. Government should provide good roads to reverie community to facilitate free transportation of fish and fish products to urban areas. f. Government should establish libraries in reverie community to enhance information dissemination. Boat mobile libraries will serve the purpose well. REFERENCES [1] Aboyade, B. O. (1987). The provision of information for rural development. Ibadan: Fountain Publications. [2] Adimorah, E. N. O. &Aboyade, B. O. (1984).Information needs and information transfer of Nige riasoil scientist". Unpublished master thesis, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. [3] Bargo, N. V. (1996). Analysis of communication media infrastructure and fish farmers' Communication behaviour in region 6 western Vasay as Philippines. Unpublished thesis, Laguna College, Philippines. [4] Gillett, B. & Lightfoot, G. (2001). The Economic Importance of Fisheries in the pacific Islands notes on the contribution of fisheries to GDP, employment, exports and nutrition, Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank, Secretariat and the Pacific community (SPC), Forum Fisheries agency (EFC). [5] Ikoja-Odongo, R. (2001). Study of the Information Needs and Uses of the Information Sector in Uganda. Preliminary findings Library and information science process electronic journal. [6] Morris, C. (2000). "The role of computers and information technology in rural agricultural information system", LIS 711: Information Management, Assignment 3, Topic 16, 20 October. [7] Munyua, H. (2000). " information and communication technologies (ICTS) for rural development and food scarcity: lesson from field experience in developing countries", paper presented at a workshop on the role of information and communication technologies in rural development and food security, Rome, 5-6 June, available at: http//fao.org/coaim/ictus/munyua.htm (accessed 30 May 2006). [8] Njoku, I. F. (2004)."The Information Needs and Seeking Behaviour of Fishermen in Lagos State". International Information and Library Review. 36(4), 297-307. [9] Onakomaiya, (1990)."Studies of the Educational Needs of Migrant Fishermen and their Children in the Reverie Areas of Ogun State'-Final Report", Department of Geography and Regional Planning, Ogun State University. [10] Tawari, F. (2002, January 16-19). Dissemination of Research Finding on Nomadic Education in Nigeria (The Migrant Fishermen Education Experience).Issues and Directions Paper Presented at the International Conference Organized by International Extension College (IEC) Cambridge and Sponsor by the Department for International Development (DFIUD). [11] Otolo, P.U. (2010). Agricultural information needs and utilization among migrant fishermen in Isoko Riverine Creeks of Delta State, Nigeria. Unpublished Ph.D Thesis, Department of Library and Information Science, Delta State University, Abraka. 267