Information and Training needs of fish farmers in some selected Local Government Areas of Edo State, Nigeria.

Abstract

This study assessed the information and training needs of fish farmers in selected Local Government Areas LGAs of Edo State. A multi-stage sampling technique was used selected select 100 fish farmers while, primary data was selected with the aid of structured questionnaire complemented with an interviews schedule. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and inferential statistics such as logit regression as well as attitudinal measuring scale of 5-point Likert scale. Findings from the study revealed that majority (77%) of the respondents were males while the mean age and households size of respondents was 41 years and 4 people, respectively. All the respondents had formal education, with majority (82%) attaining tertiary education. However, information needs of the respondents existed in water quality management (58%), hatching (57%), source of fingerlings (53%) and disease symptoms (43%) which ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th, respectively. Training needs existed in needs control and management (82%), water quality and maintenance (68%) and pond stocking (42%), which ranked 1st 2nd and 3rd, respectively. The fish farmers had a good perception of management practices employed in fish farming such as disease control, pond stocking, liming and others. Some of the constraints indicated by the respondents were lack of capital high cost fish feed (92%), difficulty in procuring good fingerlings and other. Logit regression results revealed that there were significant relationship between age (1.735), cooperative (1.827) and extension contact (2.243) of the respondents and their information and training needs, hence the null hypothesis was rejected. It was therefore recommended that Government and other stakeholders should invest in extension services that will sensitize fish farmers on the various ways in which fish farming activities can be carried out. Key Words: Information, training, fish farmers, pond, respondents.