An assessment of Community Based Provided Services on Income of Fish Processors in Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Fish is highly perishable and needs to be processed immediately, it is caught but the processors lack the capital and other necessities to carry out their processing activities. This study examined the effects of community-based organizations (CBO) on income of fish processors in Kogi State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to describe socio economic characteristics of fish processors; identify areas of intervention of CBOs on fish processors; determine the effect of CBO on the income of fish processors and identify constraints faced by fish processors in the study area. In order to achieve the study’s objectives, multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 192 fish processors. Data were collected using questionnaires and interview schedules and were analyzed using the descriptive statistics and Ordinary Least Square (OLS). Results revealed that fish processing is a female dominated business in the study area and average household size was 4. Areas of intervention of CBOs in the study area were building of market stalls, maintenance of roads, provision of furniture and equipment to schools. The result further revealed that processing equipment and shops given by the CBOs had huge impact on the income of the respondents while training had a negative relationship with the respondent’s income. Some of the limitations stood up to by the respondents were lacking capital (86.5%), inaccessibility of credit (68.8%) and surprising expense of transportation (41.7%). Based on the findings of the study it was recommended that improved processing equipment should be given to the processors by the organizations so as to help support their individual business which will thusly help increase their income.