ISSN 2167-0447
International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 3 (1), pp. 373-378, January, 2013 © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Profitability drive against risk: the case of grasshopper collection business in Maiduguri, a semi-arid zone of north-eastern Nigeria
Sharah H. A.
Department of Crop Protection, University of Maiduguri, P. M. B. 1069 Maiduguri, Nigeria.
Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].
Received 27 July, 2012; Accepted 05 January, 2013
Abstract
This research was conducted in Maiduguri (1°5 N and 13° 10NE), on edible Sahelian grasshopper species such as Nomadacris spp., Kraussaria spp. Ornithacris spp. collection business. The objective of this study was to find out the reasons behind the involvement of male collectors in such a risky night expedition. Collection were made from the bush in the night using light traps, sweeping, packing and bagging into 50 kg polythene bags, which are then conveyed to the markets by road to Maiduguri for whole-sale. Fifty questionnaires containing fifty questions each were administered. These were distributed to fifty respondents to answer during the twelve months of the research. The twelve months was meant to cover the period of abundance (October to May) and scarcity (June to September) as the rains commences. During the rainy season, cost per bag of 50 kg of fresh grasshoppers ranged between N4, 000 to 11,000 mean of N7375. Daily collection ranged from 1 to 8 bags per night shift per person, depending on hopper abundance and density at the sites, time spent at the collection point, number of cooperate collectors and the availability of empty bags for packaging. Collection time begins as from 6 pm to 6 am (night collection) to enable them bring their catches to the markets in the morning, where they sell their catches early and move on to another businesses. This was a male (96%) dominated business, with only two (4%) (female pioneer collectors), who later withdrew due to hazards and fear of rape at night. Profit obtained by each collector was N6856.25 per bag per trip. The research has shown that all the respondents have alternative jobs to fall back to during the periods of hopper scarcity and because of the uncertainty in the availability of these insects all the time.
Key words: Harvesters, light trapping, joblessness, profitability, poor remuneration, poverty alleviator, risk, hazards.