Gender roles are significant in aquaculture production because of the benefits and limitations male and female come across in securing their livelihood for sustainable development across cultural, political, and societal settings. Studies have shown female involvement in credit use, but not on credit control among aquaculture producers in Southwest, Nigeria. Therefore, the study was aimed to determine credit use, control parameters and variables that determine credit use and control among aquaculture producers in Lagos and Oyo States, Nigeria.
Stratified sampling method was used to select cultured fish farmers in Lagos and Oyo States through the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) zones in each state. Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis niloticus are the major cultured fish species raised by fish farmers in both states. A total sample size of 202 respondents were proportionally selected from the membership list of the ADP zones by gender, giving male and female equal opportunities to be selected. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected through In-depth Interviews (IDIs), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and structured questionnaires. Data were collected on demographic characteristics of fish farmers in both states, which comprise gender, age, household size, educational level, primary occupation (PO), credit access and control by gender, as well as determinants of credit access and control between male and female fish farmers in both states. Gender Analysis Framework (Harvard Tool 2) was used to determine access and control over credit facility. Descriptive and probit regression model were used to analyse the data collected.
Majority of female fish farmers (92.3%) and male (77.9%) in Lagos State (LS), indicate fish farming (FF) business as a major source of income, but in Oyo State (OS), male (92.5% and female (69.6%) practice FF as a PO. Access to credit was reported among females (76.9%) and male (65.4%) in Lagos State (LS), with males having a higher control (34.6%) than the females (23.1%). In Oyo State (OY), although female had a higher access to credit (78.3%) and males (62.3%), males still have a higher control over credit than the females. PO (-0.294) and household size (0.169) were the significant determinants of access to and control over credit resources in both states. Significant differences exist in access and control over credit resource between Lagos and Oyo States at (p<0.05), and state variable was significant (p< 0.1), with Lagos State fish farmers having more access to and control over credit resource than Oyo State fish farmers. Gender equalities in gaining access to formal-sector credit and authority over credit resource would prevent imbalance in credit control among aquaculture producers. Therefore, the ability of male and female to have equal right over assets and privileges is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world.