Gender Role of Women in Fisheries Operations in the Fishing Communities of Doma Dam of Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Nigeria

The study was conducted to determine the involvement of women in fisheries activities in three fishing communities (Yelwa, Agatu, and Water treatment plant) of Doma Dam in Doma Local Government area of Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A total of 50 women were selected through purposive sampling technique in three fishing communities of the study area. Primary data were collected through the use of a structured questionnaire and personal interview of the respondents. Simple descriptive statistics and ranking order were used to analyze the data. Results of the study showed that 54% of the respondents were within the active productive age of between 28 and 38 years. The majorities (92%) of the respondents are married, and about (80%) had a non-formal education. About 54% of the respondents are members of cooperative society, 42% had fishing experience of 3 - 10 years, while 60% of the respondents engage in trading as other activities that generate income apart from fishing activities. The result indicated that the respondents are engaged in fishing (98%), fish processing (100%) and fish marketing (100%). The major reasons for the respondents’ involvement in fisheries operation were to pay for children school/medical fees (86%), procurement of household assets (80%) and purchase of other goods for sale (6%). The major constraints faced by women in fisheries operation in the study area were inadequate extension service, inadequate storage facilities, poor marketing arrangement and lack of modern fish processing facilities thereby making their earnings low. Their major occupational hazards reported were redness/swelling of the eye (100%), skin rashes (4%) and pile (2%). Therefore, the study recommended that Government should enhance and upgrade fish processing facilities in the study area with the adoption of modern smoking facilities and technology. This will improve and add value to smoked fish which could increase patronage and income of respondents. Activities of respondents should also be made known and incorporated into the agricultural development programmes such as Fadama project, Badakoshi Agricultural Scheme and other related projects. This will help in improving the respondents’ access to capital/credit and other equipment necessary for improving fisheries activities.