DETERMINANTS OF RURAL HOUSEHOLD DEMAND FOR FISH IN COMMUNITIES OF WATER AND NON-WATER BODIES IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Irregular consumption of animal protein has been a problem confronting resource poor rural households in Oyo State. This study therefore investigated determinants of rural household demand for fish in Oyo State. Multistage sampling procedure was used. Ten Local Government Areas (LGAs) were purposively selected out of the thirty three LGAs. Five LGAs were selected adjacent to Water Bodies (WB) while five others were selected randomly from other LGAs without or as Non Water Bodies (NWB). Twenty rural communities and 125 rural communities' households were randomly selected from each of the WB and NWB LGAs. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data during dry (DS) and wet seasons (WS) for 18 months. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and probit regression at α_0.05.

Results show that Scomber species (23.7%), Clarias gariepinus (17.1%) and Heterotis niloticus (20.3%) were mostly consumed fish species from marine, cultured and Captured Freshwater Fish (CFF) respectively during the WS. In DS, Panulirus spp. (10.4%), Clarias gariepinus (27.5%) and Heterotis niloticus (12.5%) were mostly consumed fish from marine, cultured and CFF. The price of capture fresh water fish positively and significantly affected fish demand in the dry season and the entire sample. Age, occupation and education of household head as well as ratio of children in the household had significant effects during the rainy season and the entire sample for capture fish demand. The price of marine fish was negatively significant in non-water body and in the entire sample. Per capita household income was significant during the dry season and the entire sample. Household head occupation and children ratio were significant in both dry season and the entire sample in non-water body communities for marine fish. The price of culture fish significantly affected fish demand in the dry and rainy season and entire sample.  The household income was negatively significant in both seasons and the entire sample. Children ratio was negatively significant in the dry season and the entire sample for the demand for culture fish.

It was concluded that presence of water body, seasonality and various rural household factors affected demand for captured, marine, cultured fish species.