AWARENESS AND ADOPTION OF INNOVATION ON IMPROVED FISH FEEDING TECHNIQUES AMONG FISH FARMERS IN OBIO/AKPOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed the adoption of innovation on improved fish feeding techniques among fish farmers in Urban and Rural communities in Obio/Akpor Local Government areas of Rivers State. Multistage sampling technique was used; the first stage fifteen (15) communities were purposively sampled and the next stage fish farmers were sampled randomly from the communities to obtain a sampled size of 100. Data were collected through structured questionnaire and interview scheduled. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentages and mean were used for data analysis. The results revealed that 22% farmers major source of information was through family and friends, while awareness rate was high 100% for the use of floating feed, about 85% of them used live food and most adopted innovation on improved fish feeding techniques were floating feed (X= 4.99) and use of live food (X= 4.23) constraints to adoption of innovations were high cost of improved fish farming techniques and technical knowhow. It was recommended that Government should provide funds in form of loan at a reduced interest rate to the fish farmers and extension agents should organize timely training for the fish farmers to enable them adopt innovations introduced to them