THE IMPACT OF SHIRORO DAM PROJECT ON FOOD SECURITY AND POVERTY STATUS OF RURAL FISHERFOLKS IN NORTH CENTRAL REGION OF NIGERIA

• Y. U. Oladimeji

  Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture / Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria ** Departmental Graduate *Corresponding e-mail

  Author

• B. A. Y. Abubakar

  Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture / Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria ** Departmental Graduate *Corresponding e-mail

  Author

Food security and poverty are two important concepts embedded in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).A number of empirical studies across the world have shown that irrigation has either a positive or negative influence on fisherfolks' household incomes, food security and poverty alleviation. Hence, the study intends to assess the impact of Shiroro Dam Project (SDP) on food security and poverty status of rural fisher folks in Niger state, north central Nigeria. Primary data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 363 fish folks from 2 LGAs and 12villages. 267fisherfolks who are non-beneficiaries of SDP were also selected as counterfactual to examine the impact. The data were analyzed using Propensity Score Matching and the Local Average Treatment Effect models. Results indicate that majority of Shiroro dam fisherfolks (SDF) are male (93.39%), married (86.78%) with mean age and fishing experience of 45 and 24 years respectively. The results revealed that 56% of SDF were food secured, while 25% of NBF were food secured. Poverty incidence for the SDF and NBF was 0.281 and 0.491 respectively. The average Kcals of the SDF was 1.602 units and the difference was statistically significant at 1%.The Treatment Effect on the Treated (ATT) on the average had a positive impact, statistically significant at 1% and increases food security (Kcals) of the SDF by 0.803 units or 42.49%. The result revealed that the expenditure incurred by SDF was ₦10.870 and the difference was statistically significant at 1% level of probability. The hypothesis, which stated that Shiroro dam utilization, has no impact on food security; fishery income and expenditure of the beneficiaries were rejected. There is need to integrate fish production both capture fisheries and aquaculture into dam construction and associated water management systems to increase their food security and poverty alleviation. Special attention should be given to fisheries in dam construction to cater for more fisherfolks.

1. Y. U. Oladimeji, Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture / Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria ** Departmental Graduate *Corresponding e-mail

   Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture / Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria ** Departmental Graduate *Corresponding e-mail

2. B. A. Y. Abubakar, Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture / Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria ** Departmental Graduate *Corresponding e-mail

   Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture / Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria ** Departmental Graduate *Corresponding e-mail

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