Adoption of Aquaculture Technologies among Fish Farmers in Oluyole Local Government Area, Oyo State

Abstract

This study examined the level of adoption of aquaculture technology among fish farmers in Oluyole Local Government area of Oyo State, Nigeria. To improve aquaculture practice in Nigeria, a technology package was developed and disseminated to fish farmers in the Local Government. This package included twelve practices that the fish farmers were supposed to adopt. One hundred and ten respondents were randomly selected from the registered fish farmers in the Local Government. Data were collected through use of well structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as percentage and frequency distribution were used while Chi-square and PPMC were used to analysis the hypotheses. The results showed that level of adoption of the technology was low. Less than half of the respondents adopted the technology. After the liming of pond, which was fully adopted by 55.9%, pond outlet and inlet fully adopted by 50.0% and Feed technology fully adopted by 50.0% which were usually not to specification. The farmers found it difficult to adopt the other recommendations, (e.g., Use the chilled holding for preservation fully adopted by 16.6%, hatchery technique fully adopted by 40.4% Water quality test before fully adopted by 40.1%). It was discovered that the farmers did not have adequate funds to maintain their small ponds and to purchase the necessary feed and other necessities for aquaculture technology adoption. To increase the level of adoption of aquaculture technologies in the study area, it is necessary to change farmers’ perception from subsistence to commercial and sustainable farming practice; to assist the farmers with credit facilities and to intensify activities of the extension agents.