Use of ICTs among fish farmers in Oyo State

Abstract

The need to reduce the import bill on fish through improved fish farming in order to meet its increasing demand led to enhancement of local production. This is through improving capacity of fish farmers with the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs). In determining the use of ICTs among fish farmers in Oyo State, one hundred and twenty respondents were interviewed for the study. These were selected from Ibadan/Ibarapa zone of Oyo State ADP using simple random sampling technique. The relationship between use of ICTs and income level was determined using PPMC. Results show that 89.2 percent of the respondents were married and 84.2 percent were educated with mean age of 46 years. The registered farmers updated their knowledge often from different sources, most especially from extension agents. The use of ICTs by respondents indicated a significant relationship with their income level (r = 0.264, p=0.004). The study concluded that fish farmers’ behaviour to information is not poor but they do not have enough knowledge of ICTs, especially the modern ones which will make them exploit the potentials embedded in the use. Therefore there should be enough sensitization of fish farmers on the importance and advantages of the use of ICTs.