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अमूर्त

Integrated Rice-Cum-Fish Farming in Nigeria: Prospects, Status and Challenges

Hauwau A. Salele, Nafisa Abdurrasheed, Akeem Babatunde Dauda

Nigeria has over time become a consumer nation where the majority of the rice and fish consumed is imported from other nations to balance the demand and supply. Due to Nigeria's rising population and strong demand for fish and rice, the pressure to increase production has been consistent. There is a decrease in the consumption of a healthy diet, and many people are developing diseases related to nutritional deficiencies. Around the world, traditional agricultural practices have helped ensure the security of food and livelihoods but the increase in population is making it difficult to achieve the same again. We might be able to create new sustainable farming practices if we recognize the ecological heritage of old agricultural systems. There is a pressing need now for Nigeria to improve its rice and fish output in order to meet the growing population's demands for food and nutrition. Nigeria has a larger potential for rice-fish integration, but due to different socioeconomic, environmental, technological, and institutional barriers, very few farmers have adopted it. Integrated rice-fish farming is one of the best farming systems in terms of resource usage, diversity, productivity, production efficiency, and food supply. Nevertheless, only a small percentage of farmers engage in integrated rice-fish farming. Integrated rice-fish farming can help Nigeria meet up with the current food demand by producing enough rice and fish through effective resource use and good management. The country's ability to adopt this method is being limited by the farmers' lack of technical expertise, insufficient finances, and limited awareness. Therefore, this paper reviewed the prospects, status and challenges of integrated rice-cum fish in Nigeria.