Adoption of Improved Aquaculture Management Practices by Cluster Fish Farmers in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

The adoption of proven fish production management practices portends many economics and social implications. Interview schedule was employed to generate primary data from 146 respondents in the four cluster fish farms (estates) in two local government areas and analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Information on socio economic characteristics revealed that most of the respondents were in the active age bracket of 30-40 years, well educated and small scale fish farmers with fewer years of experience members at fish farmers association and married. Fellow farmers (57.5%) were major source of information on fish farming since the farmers were brought together under the umbrella body of fish farmers’ association. The study further revealed a low adoption level for all the management practices on adoption index of 0.43 which means that the farmers had only 43% adoption of the practices. Age, education and fish farming experience of fish farmers correlate with the adoption of some improved aquaculture management practices. In view of prevailing evidence regular training and workshops to update the knowledge and information on modern aquaculture practices should be organized for fish farmers.

Key words: Adoption, improved aquaculture management practices, cluster fish farmers.