Abstract
The study determined and assessed the push and pull factors influencing participation of people in fish farming
enterprise with a view to reducing fishpond abandonment in the State. Multistage and proportionate sampling
procedure was employed to select 240 fish farmers from the three agricultural zones of the State. Data were collected
with validated and structured interview schedule. The data were described with percentage, mean and standard
deviation while inferences were drawn with factor and regression analyses. Results showed the mean age of the
farmers to be 48± 9 years. Majority were married with household size of 6±3 people. The farmers had good formal
education. Out of the nine factors isolated to influence participation in fish farming, only three were identified to pull
people into the enterprise while six pushed people away. It was then concluded that if the scenario should continue,
the future of fish farming is bleak in the country and the cost of fish importation would continue to be on the high side.