ECONOMICS OF PARTNERSHIP FISHING AMONG FISHERMEN IN RIVERINE AREAS OF EBONYI NORTH AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined economics of partnership fishing among fishermen in riverine areas of Ebonyi North agricultural zone of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Partnership farming as a form of agribusiness organisation is generally assumed to increase output, improve welfare and lead to financial independence. To test this assumption, switching regression model was employed to ascertain the effects of a fisherman switching from participation in partnership fishing, not participating and discontinuing with partnership fishing. Analysis revealed that for all the respondents, joining partnership would raise their income by N87.93. Income difference under partnership  revealed that partnership  fishermen’s income was N20.84 lower than the average of all sampled fishers; whereas that of former partnership and never partnership fishers’ were N32.92 and N186.44 higher than the average of all sampled fishers, respectively. The partnership fishers’ income difference outside partnership was N15.50 higher than the average of all sampled fishers; whereas the former and never partnership fishers’ income were N178.0 and N24.48 lower than the average of all sampled fishers, respectively. The study, through the selection equation, identified education, extension visit and group membership to have positive impact (P<0.01) on partnership fishing participation; and age and credit negatively determined fishers’ participation in partnership fishing.