Effect of Vertical Integration on Multidimensional Well‑being of Fish Farmers in Lagos State Fish‑hub, Nigeria

Abstract

Vertical integration might be relevant to improve the well-being of farmers particularly when thinking of how economic innovation ensures high utilization of resource and promote economic prosperity in Nigeria. However, the relationship of such proposition is yet to receive empirical attention in the fish hub. This study uncovers the effect of the vertical integration on the multi-dimensional well-being of fish producers in Lagos State fish hub. The study was examined using primary data collected from 103 integrated and 60 non-integrated respondents. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Gross National Wellness (GNW) Index and Average Treatment Effect (ATE). The result of the GNW Index shows that both the integrated and non-integrated farmers ranked the indicators of multidimensional wellness in the same order. They were satisfied with their social relations (8.70); physical and health status (7.91); mental and emotional status (7.41); work and income status (5.87) as well as their economic and retirement status (5.68). However, they were dissatisfied with the political and government condition (4.73) as well as their living environment (3.77). The ATE result shows that the indicators such as the political and government intervention; mental and emotional; work and income were the components of multidimensional wellbeing that was improved by vertical integration decision of the farmers in the fish hub. However, social relations; physical and health; living environment wellbeing dimensions were not affected by the vertical integration decision of the respondents. It is therefore recommended that fish farmers should integrate themselves so as to enjoy government interventions, better income status and better emotional wellness all of which will improve their wellbeing.