Journal of Food Processing & Technology

Socio-environmental effects of water hyacinth on the livelihoods of coastal dwellers of Ondo State, Nigeria

Global Food Security and Sustainability Conference

September 05-07, 2016 Beijing, China

Simeon Dada Yomi Alfred

Federal University of Technology, Nigeria

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Food Process Technol

Abstract:

The livelihoods of people who live along the coatal areas of Nigeria include fishing and little of farming and water transportation. Most coastal areas are of little farming value in terms of crop cultivation because of its very poor nature resulting from water logging. Fishing therefore, receives prominence in terms of being a source of income for food and for other basic needs. The challenge that the coastal dwellers are usually confronted with is water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes). Water hyacinth is a covering plant which grows by occupying a large fishing water space. This causes a lot of difficulty to fishermen for carrying out their activities, not only because it prevents easy movement of fishing boats, but also because it makes a quantum of fish to be displaced from the access of the farmers. The consequences of this to the fish farmers are those of reduced income and increased cost of fishing whereby, the farmer would no longer be able to sustain his householdsâ?? basic needs due to poverty engendered. It was on this basis that the study was carried out to determine the socio-environmental effects of the plant on the livelihoods of the people dwelling along the coast where the growth of the plant is dominant. Data were collected from 120 coastal dwellers in ten communities at a proportionate ratio. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the data analysis. It was found that fish farmers were the most affected by water hyacinth, while water transporters (boat and canoe operators) also suffered losses. It was recommended that in order to ensure food security among these respondents and all others who depend on them for survival, the issue of clearing the water space of wter hyacinth is not what an individual could do. Apart from non-governmental organizations, governments and donor groups coming to their aids, the farmers need to form themselves into cooperative groups to frontally approach the challenge.

Biography :

Email: simmydalf@yahoo.com