Over 63.4% Women Participate in Fish Industry – Prof. Gbadamosi
Date: December 17, 2025
By: Olusegun Hosea, Akure
Professor Alaba Gbadamosi, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, has presented an impact assessment report to the Ondo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry on the Ondo State Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme.
Speaking during the presentation, Prof. Gbadamosi explained that although he was not directly involved in the fieldwork, he handled the editorial aspect of the report to make it accessible to the public.
“Actually, I was not involved in the fieldwork, but the consultants—our colleagues—did the fieldwork. We edited it to make it into this text and cleaned it up. As the commissioner said, I had to put my name on it because of that,” he stated.
According to him, the findings are data-driven and evidence-based, reflecting realities from the field. He disclosed that women participation in fish production under the programme stands at over 63.4 percent.
“For example, in fish production, there is more than 63.4 percent women participation. When we talk about inclusion—youth and women participation—you find that in most cases women are disadvantaged in accessing many programmes. But in this case, there is good women participation, which is a major plus for this project intervention,” he said.
Prof. Gbadamosi also highlighted the profitability of fishing activities under the programme, noting that profitability stands at about 122 percent.
“This means that if you invest, you can get more than 100 percent returns. This is very remarkable for the project and is not based on assumptions; it is supported by empirical evidence from the field,” he added.
On transportation infrastructure, he noted that improved road conditions have significantly reduced travel time and transportation costs for beneficiaries. Although vehicle maintenance costs were not captured in the report, he acknowledged their importance, as better roads reduce frequent visits to mechanics.
“For the beneficiaries assessed, time spent on the road reduced, the cost of transporting food materials also reduced, and in the long run, this will lead to reduced food prices. Farmers often complain about transportation costs, and if these are reduced, food prices in the markets will also decline. This project has validated that,” he explained.
He further stated that the impact of the project on income and livelihoods varies across six thematic areas, including cassava production. In some areas, women participation in cassava production was recorded at about 30.4 percent, underscoring variations across value chains.
“Profitability also varies and is location-specific. For example, in areas where tomato production already exists, impacts must be assessed using different indicators to understand the effects on beneficiaries,” he said.
On recommendations, Prof. Gbadamosi emphasized that they were derived from the findings rather than personal opinions. He called for the scaling up of the programme to ensure continuity and sustainability.
“If something is good, it should not die. We have seen results, participation, and real farmers involved—these are real-life encounters, not AI-generated. Since people have benefited, a strong recommendation is to sustain the programme and ensure the benefits continue,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of monitoring and evaluation, noting that public spending must be accompanied by proper documentation and impact assessment. He advocated greater inclusion of youths, describing them as the future of agriculture.
“Young people must see agriculture as profitable. We cannot expect them to remain on farms using cutlasses and hoes like our forefathers did centuries ago. There is a need for improvement and modernization,” he concluded.
