Constraints to adoption of fish farming technologies among fish farmers in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

In the study the adoption of improved fish farming technologies in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State was investigated. Multistage sampling technique was used. The first stage was purposive selection of seven communities, the next stage was snowball sampling technique used to select 10 fish farmers from each community. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results indicated that majority of fish farmers were aware of fish farming technologies (91.4%). The respondents adopted the facilities for improved fish farming (21.0%), liming techniques (14.3%), and fish culture management (11.4%). Constraints to farmers' adoption of fish farming technologies are high cost of improved technologies (mean = 3.39), inadequate capital (mean = 3.35), erratic- power supply (mean = 3.12) and inaccessibility to credit facilities (mean = 3.11). It is recommended that agricultural credit schemes be strengthened at all levels, power supply be improved on, marketing structure should be well organized and extension services should be focused on which will enhance high level of technology adoption and result in much anticipated reduction in fish importation through fish farming in the country.

Keywords: Adoption, constraints, fish farmers, fish farming, technologies