Determination of effectiveness of extension approaches and adoption levels of fisheries technologies at Akpabuyo, Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

A study was carried out on the status of fisheries technologies in research and extension systems in Akpabuyo, Cross River State of Nigeria.The four villages in Akpabuyo used for the study were:  Ikang, Esigie, Idebe and Iffiang King Duke, using structured questionnaire to obtain information from Farmers and Agricultural Development Programme (ADP). Results of the study showed that the range of awareness and adoption levels of fisheries technologies were 4.0-67.5% and 2.0-55.0% respectively. The farmers most important sources of information on production recommendations were radio and television which formed the most effective channels of communication to fisher folks (97.5%). Method demonstration was the most popular approach for technology transfer that most farmers at Akpabuyo were familiar with (87.5% fisher folks), and equally was rated as the most effective. However, the major constraints to adoption by farmers include high cost of inputs, insufficient awareness and inadequate interactions with village extension agents. The major problems of ADP were poor funding and poor staffing situation, reflecting in low mobility of field staff, poor job motivation and ill-equipped technology demonstration centres. Improved funding of research and extension agents, promotion of low cost and sustainable technologies and paying more attention to the promotion of non-crop technologies by ADP are some of the recommendations made to address the problems of fisheries extension.

Key words: Extension services, aquaculture, adoption of technology.   Manuscript Reviewed by: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chee Kong Yap Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia Dr. Jolyon Dodgson Faculty of Science Mahasarakham University,Kantarawichai District Maha Sarakham Province Thailand Adrian Caprita University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine from Timisoara

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 Received: June 6, 2016  Accepted: June 29, 2016  Published: July 13, 2016

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