Socio Economic and Environmental Impact of Ogun River on Food Security in Ogun State, Nigeria

presentationSmall-scale fisheries can generate significant profit, enhance resilience to shocks and crises, and make meaningful contributions to poverty alleviation and food security. There is very limited information on how well these potentials are being tapped in developing countries. This study examines the socioeconomic, livelihood and food security impacts of Ogun River on households in neighbouring communities. It is based on primary data obtained in a cross-section survey of 50 households drawn by multistage random sampling from fishing and farming communities around Opeji axis of the river. The data were collected using a combination of Focus Group Discussions and Household Interviews; and analysed by descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-square, t and F tests). An average household in the sample was made up of six (4.7±0.4) members, headed by a male (74.5%), aged 46.3±1.9 years. The mean household income was N192, 000.00 ± 23,874.00/year while the mean per capita household income was N43 667.80/person/year. With this, 78.9% of the households fell below US$1.25 (N197.5)/head/day severe poverty threshold. Only 23.1% of the households were food secured. Majority were food insecure with (26.9%) or without (42.3%) hunger. Incidence of poverty and food insecurity were however significantly (p<0.05) lower among household of fishers (62.1% and 54.8% respectively). Chi-square tests revealed that gender, marital status and household size were the key determinants of food insecurity in the study area, hence the need to keep household size small. Income sources could be diversified to include off-farm employment (p<0.01) and fishing (p