Current trends on women’s participation in aquaculture / fish farming and future prospects; the Zimbabwean perspective: a case of Siabuwa Community in Binga District; Matabeleland North Province, Zimbabwe

The study to explore challenges impeding women's participation in fish farming/aquaculture in Zimbabwe's marginalized communities was carried out in Siabuwa area of Binga District; Matabeleland North Province. The treatise's main thrust was to establish the current status of women's involvement in projects earmarked for community development as elsewhere, particularly Africa's fast developing economies women have been central in advancing rural livelihoods. The study endeavored to streamline women's contributions in different sectors of the economy, barriers encountered and the possible benefits that can accrue from the aggregation of women into community based income generating projects. A qualitative approach augmented with descriptive design in order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of livelihood issues from participants was employed. Experts from the government of Zimbabwe's Livestock Development Unit (LPD) and other stakeholders partnering the government in the district provided secondary data in the form of archival material and records and which were so essential in the compilation of the required relevant facts. Questionnaires and interview guides were the main instruments used to collect primary data from a sample of 50 subjects, who were purposively selected from a population of 400 inhabitants of Siabuwa community. The data collected were analyzed through descriptive statistics where tables, frequency counts and percentages were finally used for purposes of presenting the findings. The findings revealed that though women are segregated from active participation in community projects they have the potential to make immense contribution in areas of management, production and marketing which are crucial facets for sustainable community development. It is therefore opined that the inclusion of women in fish farming would usher a new dimension which would go a long way in an endeavor to address gender inequality in Zimbabwe's rural communities.