Field Survey of Fish Pond Management Practices in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was on the survey of fish pond management practices in Delta State of Nigeria. A total of 41 questionnaires were randomly administered out of 103 registered ADP fish farmers. Simple descriptive statistics was used to analyse the questionnaires. The results showed that a higher percentage of the farmers (42.1% and 36.8%) were hobby and part time farmers and the average age of the farmers was 47 years. About 94.7% of the farmers feed their fish using locally available feed ingredients; 89.5% and 26.3% of the farmers use poultry dropping and single super phosphate fertilizers, respectively to fertilize their ponds while 63.2% do not lime their ponds. The pond management practices were and can be generally considered as fair. Funds constraint was identified as the major inhibiting factor directly affecting pond management practices. Recommendations were made for improvement on the present management practices so that production can be increased to meet the present level of fish demand.

Keywords: Fish pond, management practices, cultured fishes, fish farmers, Delta State.

> Tropical Freshwater Biology Vol. 15 2006: pp. 43-54