Choice of Small-scale Catfish Farmers for Rearing System in Oyo State, Nigeria: A Comparative Analysis of SEAP Beneficiaries and Non-beneficiaries

The choice of rearing systems has important implications for productivity, profitability, and sustainability among small-scale fish farmers. This study analyses the determinants of rearing system choice among small-scale catfish farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria, with particular emphasis on the role of institutional support through the Self-Reliance Economic Advancement Programme (SEAP). Using cross-sectional data from 248 farmers (124 SEAP beneficiaries and 124 non-beneficiaries), we examine farmers’ choices among earthen, concrete, and collapsible ponds/other systems, using a multinomial logit model. The results indicate that access to credit, fish farming income, SEAP participation, farming experience, marital status, and primary occupation significantly influence the choice of rearing system. Farmers with greater access to credit and higher incomes are more likely to adopt capital-intensive systems, such as concrete and collapsible ponds, rather than earthen ponds. In contrast, more experienced and married farmers tend to remain with earthen ponds, reflecting risk considerations and path dependency. The findings underscore the importance of institutional and financial support for intensifying catfish farming and provide policy-relevant insights to inform the design of credit and extension programs for small-scale fish farmers.