SOCIO-ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF HOUSEHOLD FISH INCOME IN THE SOUTHERN REGION OF MALAWI: THE ROLE OF GENDER
- Authors
-
-
Wafula Mang’eni
-
- Keywords:
- Aquaculture, Gender, Income, multinomial logistic regression, Malawi.
- Abstract
-
The study focused on an understanding of the socio-economic factors affecting household fish income among aquaculture farmers in the southern region of Malawi while appreciating the gender-dynamics. The study targeted 4,721 fish farmers (pond owners) in the Southern fish-producing districts of Mulanje, Phalombe, Thyolo, Mwanza and Blantyre who represent 30% of aquaculture farmers nationally. Cochran (1963) formula was used to determine a sample 356 farmers which was increased to 375 fish farmers to enhance the precision. A structured household survey questionnaire was used to collect data from randomly sampled farmers making up 60% male and 40% female. The quantitative primary data collected was analyzed through descriptive statistics, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression models. The regression findings indicated that the source of fish fingerlings was not a significant determinant of HH income in any category (P-Value > 0.05). However, both farmer's age and level of education positively and significantly influenced HH income among single women only (β = 233.19; β = 2,508.92; P-Value < 0.05) emphasizing the role of education in empowering women to adopt modern aquaculture practices. It was also established that in regard to married women only, HH decision-making positively influenced income, particularly among married women only thus highlighting the collaborative nature of family decisions (β = 555.35; P-Value < 0.10). For both married women and men, the results revealed that HH size had a positive impact on income but a negative impact on single women, underlining the importance of collaborative family labor dynamics (β = 175.76; β = 181.18; P-Value < 0.05). Additionally, experience in fish farming positively influenced income for married women and men, demonstrating the importance of accumulated knowledge (β = 305.66; β = 61.31; P-Value < 0.01). The results further demonstrated the importance of accessing various market channels indicating that access to categories of markets positively affected income among married women and men, highlighting the benefits of diverse market channels (β = 4,985.91; β = 1,094.87; P-Value < 0.01). For the three categories, it was established that market distance negatively affected income emphasizing the importance of proximity for market access (β = (6142.39); β = (1,804.95); β = (1,357.192); P-Value < 0.10). The study recommends a need for interventions that empower and involve women in key decision-making processes; addressing the limited membership in cooperative societies that requires policymakers to focus on awareness campaigns, financial education, and facilitating cooperative establishment tailored to fish farmers' needs; supporting farmers, particularly women, in accessing high-quality fingerlings ; promoting equitable access to education, supporting women in gaining experience and land ownership, and improving market infrastructure. There is also a need for policymakers to explore initiatives enhancing scalability, efficiency, and market access for fish farmers.
- Author Biography
- References
-
Abwao, J., & Awuor, F. J. (2019). State of women in the fisheries and aquaculture value chain in Homabay county, Ken-ya. Towards enhancing sustainable livelihoods and economic empowerment. Livestock Research for Rural De-velopment, 31(12).
Ahmed, M., & Lorica, M. H. (2002). Improving developing country food security through aquaculture development—lessons from Asia. Food Policy, 27(2), 125-141.
Brummett, R. E., Gockowski, J., Pouomogne, V., & Muir, J. (2011). Targeting agricultural research and extension for food security and poverty alleviation: A case study of fish farming in Central Cameroon. Food policy, 36(6), 805-814.
Chaweza, R., & Nagoli, J. (2018). Influence of markets on fish farming adoption: the case of Chingale in Mala-wi. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 13(31), 1606-1612.
Chirwa, E, R., Kassam, D., Jere W.L and Mtethiwa, A. 2017 Origin and status of carp farming in Malawi and the issues surrounding the ban of the fish. International Journal of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Vol. 9 (5), pp. 42-51, May 2017 DOI: 10.5897/IJFA2017.0631
Dambatta, M. A., Sogbesan, O. A., Fagge, A. U., Dutse, S. I., & AU, S. (2016). Role of women in fisheries and aqua-culture in Kano State, Nigeria. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 6(14), 2224-3208.
Department of Fisheries (2017). National Fisheries and Acquaculture Policy. Government of Malawi http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/mlw190922.pdf
Gopal, N., Hapke, H. M., Kusakabe, K., Rajaratnam, S., & Williams, M. J. (2020). Expanding the horizons for women in fisheries and aquaculture. Gender, Technology and Development, 24(1), 1-9.
Kaminski, A., Gellner, M., Giese, D., Jabborov, S., Lootz, M., Lundeba, M., ... & Siachinga, M. (2019). Opportunities and challenges for small-scale aquaculture in Zambia.
Kawarazuka, N., & Bene, C. (2010). Linking small-scale fisheries and aquaculture to household nutritional security: an overview. Food Security, 2(4), 343-357.
Kruijssen, F., McDougall, C. L., & Van Asseldonk, I. J. (2018). Gender and aquaculture value chains: A review of key issues and implications for research. Aquaculture, 493, 328-337.
Limuwa, M. M., Singini, W., & Storebakken, T. (2018). Is fish farming an illusion for Lake Malawi riparian communi-ties under environmental changes? Sustainability, 10(5), 1453.
Mara Gellner, Jonas W. Ng'ambi, Stefan Holler, Alexander M. Kaminski (2021). The potential for reservoir fisheries and aquaculture in Eastern Province, Zambia Centre for Rural Development (SLE) Berlin SLE DISCUSSION PA-PER 01/2019 - EN
Morgan, M., Terry, G., Rajaratnam, S., & Pant, J. (2017). Socio‐cultural dynamics shaping the potential of aquaculture to deliver development outcomes. Reviews in Aquaculture, 9(4), 317-325.
Mushili, H., & Musuka, C. G. (2015). Promoting aquaculture growth in Zambia through Cluster approach: A case study of Luanshya district of the Copperbelt Province. Int. J. Aquac, 5, 1-7.
Musuka, C. G., Banda, E., & Bwalya, I. (2023). An Assessment of Aquaculture Performance in Chinsali and Shi-wang’ andu Districts of Muchinga Province, Zambia. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 7(10), 2191-2208.
Ndanga, L. Z., Quagrainie, K. K., & Dennis, J. H. (2013). Economically feasible options for increased women participa-tion in Kenyan aquaculture value chain. Aquaculture, 414, 183-190.
Omeje, J. E., Achike, A. I., Arene, C. J., Faleke, S. A., Manuwuike, Q. C., & Usman, G. A. (2021). Socio-economic determinants of net-income in fish farming in Kainji Lake Basin, Nigeria onomic determinants of net-income in fish farming in Kainji Lake Basin, Nigeria. Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 20(1), 53-61.
Prince, A. (2020). Profitability and constraints analysis of fish farming in the southern sector of Ghana. OMICS Interna-tional, 3 (6), 45-67
Rajaratnam, S., Ahern, M., & McDougall, C. (2020). Gender and the political economy of fish agri-food systems in the global South. In Routledge Handbook of Gender and Agriculture. Taylor & Francis.
Rajaratnam, S., Cole, S. M., Longley, C., Kruijssen, F., & Sarapura, S. (2016). Gender inequalities in access to and benefits derived from the natural fishery in the Barotse Floodplain, Zambia, Southern Africa.
Shah, R. H., & Bukhari, R. (2019). Strengthening the role of women in fisheries and aquaculture. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 7(3), 648-654.
Ukagwu, J., Sampson, O., & Nkulo, U. (2020). Influence of socio-economic factors on the profitability of fish farming in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State. Journal of Aquatic Sciences, 35(2), 219-22.
Veliu, A., Gessese, N., Ragasa, C., & Okali, C. (2009). Gender analysis of aquaculture value chain in Northeast Vi-etnam and Nigeria (Agriculture and rural development discussion paper No. 44). World Bank Group, Washing-ton, DC.
Weeratunge, N., Snyder, K., & Sze, C. P. (2009, March). Gleaner, fisher, trader, processor: Understanding gendered em-ployment in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. In Workshop on gaps, trends and current research in gender dimensions of agricultural and rural employment: differentiated pathways out of poverty. Rome (Vol. 31).
WorldFish Issues Brief | 2011-32 Gender and aquaculture: Sharing the benefits equitably. http://pubs.iclarm.net/resource_centre/WF_2832.pdf
- Cover Image
-
- Downloads
- Published
- 2026-06-19
- Section
- Articles
How to Cite
Most read articles by the same author(s)
- Wafula Mang’eni, WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT IN THE AQUACULTURE SECTOR AND ITS DETERMINING FACTORS: EVIDENCE FROM MALAWI , International Journal of Innovation and Professional Practice: Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026): International Journal of Innovation and Professional Practice (IJIPP).