An investigation into the factors facilitating extension services available to fish farmers in Ijebu-Ode agricultural extension zone, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Extension services bridge the gap between research and farmers for increased productivity and improved livelihood. The study investigated the factors facilitating extension services available to fish farmers in Ijebu Ode Agricultural Extension Zone, Ogun State, aimed to determine fish farmers' preferences, the costs and returns of fishes and the constraints hindering extension services available to the respondents. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select respondents from all the six extension blocks in Ijebu Ode Zone of Ogun State ADP. One hundred and seventeen fish farmers were randomly sampled using structured interview schedules. The study revealed the mean and standard errors of age, household size and fish farming experience as 46.6±0.9 years, 6±0.3 persons and 6±0.4 years, respectively; 67.5% were male, married (76.1%) and all were literate. Formal sources of extension services available to fish farmers were extension agents from ADPs (99.1%), JDPC extension workers (54.7%) and NGOs (44.4%).Informal sources include; friends and relations (70.9%), extension guide/bulletins (70.9%), and the mobile phone (41.9%). Farmers showed preferences for extension services like field demonstrations (91.5%), fishing inputs marketing information (88.0%), farm record keeping (81.2%) and environmental management (79%). There was significant association between fish farmers' 2 2 marital status (χ² = 29.67, p < 0.05), educational status (χ² = 22.63, p < 0.05) and nature of extension services available to them. However, no significant relationship was found between the nature of extension services available and age (r = 0.012; p >0.05), years of experience (r=-0.074; p<0.05) and house hold size (r = 0.033; p >0.05). There was association between 2 nature of extension services available to fish farmers and their profitability ((χ² = 173.088, p < 0.05). For more effective extension service delivery, this study recommends better linkage of fish farmers to credit sources, favourable government policy on agriculture, proper funding of extension service and remuneration of extension personnel.