CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
In Nigerian food production has not increased at the rate that can meet the increasing population. While food production increase at the rate of 2.5%, food demand increase at the rate of 3.5% due to the high population growth rate of 2.8% (federal office of statistic, 2010).
Fish is one of the proteinous food that needs careful handling (Eyo. 2014). This is because fish spoils easily after capture due to the high tropical temperature which accelerates the activities of bacteria, enzymes and chemical oxidation of fat in the fish. Due to poor handling, about 30-50% of fish harvested are wasted in Nigerian. These loses could be minimized by the application of proper heading, processing and preservation techniques (Bate and Bendall, 2010). The purpose of processing and preserving fish is to get them to an ultimate consumer in good, usable condition. The steps necessary to accomplish this begin before the fishing expeditions start and do not end until the fish is eaten or processed into oil, meal or a feed (Karube et al., 2011). Fish begins to spoil as soon as it is caught perhaps even before it is taken out of the water. Therefore the key to delivering a high quality product is close attention to small detail through the entire process of preparation, catching, landing, handlings storage and transport. Fish that becomes spoilt or putrid is obviously unusable (Gopakumer, 2009). Fish that is poorly cared for may not be so obviously bad, but it loses value because of off-flavor, texture or bad color that discourage (Burt, 2013) a potential purchaser from buying. If customers have bought one bad fish, they probably wont buy another, on the other land if you consistently deliver good quality at a fair price, people will become loyal customers (Nelson et al., 2014).
Spoilage proceeds as a series of complex enzymatic bacterial and chemical change that begins when the fish is netted or hooked (Burt, 2013). This process begins as soon as the fish dies. The rate of spoilage is accelerated in warm climates. The fish gut is a rich source of enzymes that allows the living fish to digest its food (Lima Dos Santos et al., 2011). Once the fish is dead these enzymes begins digesting the stomach itself, eventually the enzymes migrate into the fish flesh and digest it too. This is why the fish becomes soft and the smell becomes more noticeable.
There are countless bacteria naturally present on skin of the fish in the gills and in the intestines (Karube et al, 2011). Normally these bacterial are not harmful to the living fish, shortly after death however they begin to multiply and after two or four days they ingest the flesh of even a well iced fish, as enzymatic digestion begins to soften it. The bacterial load carried by a fish depends on its health, environment and on the way it was caught. Healthy fish from clean water will keep better than fish dragged along the bottom of a dirty pond in a trawl net. Both enzymatic digestion and bacterial decomposition involves chemical changes that cause the familiar odor of spoilage (Putro, 2015). Oxygen also reacts chemically with oil to cause rancid odor and taste. The aim of fish processing is to slow down or prevent this enzymatic, bacterial and chemical deterioration and to maintain the fish flesh in a condition as near as possible to that of fresh fish (Bate and Bendall, 2010).
The status of women in our society over the ages and all over the culture had always been considered inferior to men. They are regarded as weaklings capable of doing nothing except child bearing and home making (Enomuo, 2012). In most developing countries like Nigeria, there are patriarchal systems of social setting. In this tradition men hold the sovereigns power, control household and the society as a whole while women are ascribed to a lower hierarchy compared to men (Balk 2016).
The historical deprivation of women socially, logically, politically and technologically aggravate their position and they are subordinated as a production unit for bearing and rearing children (Ahmad 2011). Furthermore, economic extension and other public institution are gender based and often ignore the needs of women. (Baden 2015) identified some gender based differentiations within the household including access to processing resources, control over family labor, inequality in consumption and responsibility for domestic expenditure.
Tamale (2014) argues that the non-recognition of women’s labor for domestic chores is reinforced by the unequal allocation of resources. Thus, the lack of access to and control over productive resources is the main factor limiting women participation in economic activities including fish processing thereby hampering the human development process (Acharya, 2013). The role of women in food production, processing and marketing has become more relevant as a way of fighting poverty and ensuring food security (Okorley et al, 2009). Women play a crucial role in fishery, their main activities are processing and marketing of fish product (Paris and Chi 2008). Traditional fish processing method is pronominally used in our fish communities in Nigeria, therefore women must be encouraged to participate in post harvest activities of fish to reduce post harvest loses.
Women participate in agricultural activities mainly to enable them earn financial gain, enhance personal interest, family tradition and decision. Following the oil boom, the contribution of agriculture to employment decline drastically. Most men move to the urban centers in search of white collar jobs, thereby leaving their women behind to fill the gap they have created in food production. Thus for women, agriculture is seen as ready sources of employment opportunity.
In the quest to narrow the gap existing between men and women farmers in Nigeria and Africa, various women groups and Non- governmental organization (NGO) have contributed. These have contributed immensely to the growth in food production, Poverty alleviation. Etc. Through this group, the voices of the women farmer could be heard on their contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) and in decision making on national policy in agricultural development. One of such group is the Women Farmer Advance Network (WOFAN) founded in the 1990s with headquarters in Kano Nigeria. This organization among other things aim at mobilizing and training rural women in the management of information communication, organizing radio broadcast that features the effort of women provides a forum for the rural communicates to express themselves, gain access to agricultural credit and insurance facilities and access modern agricultural technologies. The women in agriculture (WIA) program uses NGOs to identify beneficiary group. The WIA aims at improving agricultural extension service for women. Maigida (2010) noted that agricultural extension services, hitherto have been pro-mal and gender insensitive towards women farmers, this is because agricultural extension service in Nigerian had traditionally been focused on men and their farm production leads to the neglect of women folks.
Kisekha (2013) noted that in Nigeria 60-80% of agricultural workers are women (Ilo 2015; Saito and Spurling 2002) also noted that women all over the world are taking over farm activities from men.
Statement of Problem
Fish is highly susceptible to deterioration without any preservation or processing measures (Okonta and Ekelenu, 2005). Immediately fish dies, a number of psychological and microbial deterioration set in and thereby degrades quality of fish. With the yearly increase of catch, post harvest loses is on the increase due to inadequate fish processor and also processing fish using traditional method within our fishing communities is slow and labor intensive, this makes it impossible to process all excess fish caught in times of abundance, thereby preventing all year round supply of fish for human consumption.
Akinola et al (2006) reported different fish preservative method to include drying, smoking, freezing, chilling and brining. Electricity supply itself remains a less reliable source of energy for small and large scale industry including processing and preservation of fish in Nigeria. Paris and Chi (2008) confirmed that women play a major role in fish processing activities as well as marketing, thus become relevant in ensuring food security in our society. Despite the obvious role Played by women in ensuring that quality fish supplies reach the final consumers as well as ensuring food security at large, there has been little or no recognition of the role of women in the fisheries sector. Polices and programs are being instituted without given due consideration to the role of women. Women have also been battling with various socio- economic obstacle which affect their productivity in the agricultural sector (Rahman and Alamu 2011). Furthermore, women do not get adequate contact with the extension agent for enlightenment on improved fish processing techniques and thus affecting their productivity. Despite the effort of government in supporting women in agriculture (WIA) program in the country, problem still persist. A study of this nature is therefore necessary to provide relevant information on the status of women involvement in fisheries for policy makers to focus their intervention towards correcting gender inequality.
Objective of the Study
The general objective of the study is to assess the role of women in fish post- harvest activities in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area Imo State. Specifically, the study sought to;
1. Describe the socio economic characteristics of women fish processors
2. Identify the different post harvest activities
3. Identify reasons for women involvement in fish processing
4. Determine the extent of access to productive resources.
5. Identify constraints faced by fish processors
6. Determine the occupational hazard of fish processing.
Research Questions
The following questions guided the study;
1. What are the socio economic characteristics of women fish processors?
2. What are the different post harvest activities that women involve in?
3. What are some of the reasons for women involvement in fish processing?
4. What are the extents of access to productive resources?
5. What challenges are encountered by women fish processors?
6. What hazard do women fish processors face?
Scope of the Study
This study is carried out in Ngor Okpala L.G.A Imo State and is focused on assessing the role of women in fish post- harvest activities.
Significance of the Study
The outcome of the work will be of immense assistance to women fish farmers/processors the prospective ones and women fish farmers in general. It will provide information for use by the women affairs and development and non- governmental agencies that focus on gender issues. Government and policy makers will utilize the information there in, in planning for women empowerment and rural development. The solution that will be proffered in this study will highlight the areas government and agencies could intervene to ensure that the women folk utlilize their potentials to boost fish production and processing in the study area, Imo State and Nigeria at large.
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