Benefits derived from National Fadama Development Project II by fish farmers in Lagos State, Nigeria

This study assessed the benefits derived by fish farmers from Fadama II project in Lagos State by interviewing 185 fish farmers who participated in Fadama II project from 9 Fadama Community Associations (FCAs) through a multistage sampling technique. Data collected with the aid of structured interview guide were analyzed with descriptive statistics and Chi-square. Majority of the fish farmers were male (71.89%), Christians (53.51%), married (41.62%) and educated (89.19%). The mean level of participation indicated that fish farmers participated mostly in decision making (2.97), election of group/association executives (2.95) and attendance at group meetings (2.86). The fish farmers benefited mainly from technical support through training, technological and material supports via the project. The fish farmers greatly benefited from the provision of fingerlings (96.77%), provision of drag net (96.77%), provision of generator (94.05%), purchase of weighing machine (92.97%) and provision of pelleting machine (92.43%). Acceptance of production system for use was high for concrete tanks (69.73%), earthen pond (58.92%) and wooden tank system (50.27%). The result of Chi-square deduced that there were significant associations between the fish farmers’ level of benefit derived from Fadama II project and their level of participation in decision making (χ2=7.153, p<0.05), financial contribution (χ2=6.122, p<0.05), advisory services to other group members (χ2=10.903, p<0.01), maintenance of association equipments (χ2=10.121, p<0.01), rehabilitation or construction of local fish markets (χ2=0.003, p<0.01) and election of association executives (χ2=11.415, p<0.01). The study therefore concluded that NFDP II has not only economic benefits but also social, technological, technical and material supports on fish farming in Lagos State and recommended that development projects should employ the demand-driven, bottom-top, informal and community-driven approaches in addressing the need of the poor in rural areas.   Key words: Training, social benefits, group participation, fisheries, National Fadama Development Project (NFDP II).