ABSTRACT

This study described the socio-economic characteristics of the aquaculture farmers in Aba Agricultural Zone of Abia State, Nigeria, and estimated the determinants of wealth status due to their engagement in the fish farming business. Primary data were collected from a random sample of 60 fish farmers in the Aba Agricultural Zone through the Abia State Ministry of Agriculture. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and an OLS regression model were used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that education, marital status, stock size, experience, amount of credit, breed of fish and household expenditure were factors that determined the wealth of fish farmers in Aba Agricultural Zone. The study recommended that government should assist fish farmers by implementing policies that would compel formal financial institutions to give adequate credit to fish farm owners to expand their capacity and stock of fish in their ponds. The married farmers looking for areas to expand their investments to should be advised by their colleagues to go into aquaculture with only good stock of fish and advised to limit their household expenditures to stock more resources as wealth.