Assessment of Awareness and Adoption of Fish Farming Technologies in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Fish farming has great potentials for ameliorating the problems of youths unemployed, poverty and nutritional deficiencies because it has been found to be economically rewarding and capable of providing vast employment, augmenting farmers’ income and improving standards of living of the citizenry. The study assessed farmers’ awareness and adoption of fish farming technologies in Obi-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. A sample of 87 fish farmers was selected from the population of about 570 through multistage random sampling technique. Structured interview schedule was used to collect relevant research data. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics (percentage and ranking). It was found that cat fish was cultured by more than 81% of the respondents. More than 72% of the farmers were aware of the eight fish farming technologies under study. More than 71% adopted aerator, flow through system, float fish feed and ova-prim but adoption of pituitary gland and re-circulatory system were at very low ebbs. High cost of feed, erratic power supply, inadequate capital and untimely or unavailability of production information were the major constraints to adoption of fish farming technologies. It was recommended that farmers continue to culture catfish which is hardy, easier to rear and tolerant to stressful conditions. Intervention programmes should be implemented to ensure that farmers adopt technologies whose adoptions were at low ebbs. The Government should subsidize the prices of fish feeds and other inputs while improving the perennial poor power supply.