Building Social Capital in the Fishery Communities of the South-West Region of Cameroon: The Case of Limbe Municipality

Recently, the role played by social capital in stimulating the level of economic activities in a country is being increasingly recognized. Production has often employed land, labour, capital and technology as key the resource inputs, social capital being largely ignored. Social capital designates social relations/connectedness. The women fish processors of the Limbe fisheries communities have recognized that starting up fish trade does not necessarily require a huge bank loan but could depend on social relationships. This study therefore aims at assessing the role played by social capital on women’s economic activities in the fisheries communities of Limbe. The purposive sampling technique was used to sample 350 women fish processors selected from among Cameroonians, Beninese, Nigerians and Ghanaians who are resident in the fisheries communities of Idenau, Batoke, Mabeta and Down Beach, Limbe. Multiple regression analysis was used in analysing the data. Results indicate that social networks are an inevitable factor that enhances the start and maintenance of their fish processing business. Recommendations are made to the Government authorities in the Limbe area to find out strategies on how to eradicate these ethnic differences.