ABSTRACT

The declining output and worsening food insecurity among rural fish farming households is of great concern to government and other developmental partners. This study analyzed the adoption of improved fish technologies and food security statues of fish farmers in Rivers State Nigeria. It specifically investigated the types of fish production technologies available, the adoption level of the fish production technologies, the determinants of adoption level and the determinants of food security among the farmers. Purposive and random sampling techniques were used to select 120 respondents for the study. Data were collected by means of questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using qualitative and quantitative measures. The determinants of adoption level and food security were analyzed using the tobit regression and probit regression respectively. The results showed that males (80%) dominated fish farming in the area. The fish farmers were mostly married (85.83%) and had high level of literacy (76.67%). The three most important fish production technologies adopted by the farmers were floating feed (96.67%), stocking density (83.33%) and water management (81.67%). Majority of the fish farmers had adoption index of between 41 – 80%. The result of the tobit regression showed that educational level (significant at 5% level), access to credit (significant at 1% level) and membership of cooperative societies (significant at 5% level) increased the probability of the farmers adopting fish production technologies. The converse was the case for age. The result also showed that the adopters of fish production technologies were more food secured (64.06%) than the non-adopters (51.76%). The result of the probit regression showed that household size (negatively significant at 10% level) reduced the probability of non-adopters being food secured, while fishing experience (significant at 5% level) and membership of cooperative society (significant at 5% level) increased that of adopters. Educational level (significant at 10% level) and number of fish stocked (significant at 10% level) increased the probability of food security among non-adopters. The result also showed that fish farming experience, number of fish stocked and cooperative membership (significant at 5% level respectively) positively influenced the food security status of all the farmers. Education, income, extension service and adoption (significant at 1% level) respectively positively influenced the probability of food security of fish farmers in the area. The study recommended that there should be the provision of free and quantitative education to enable the farmers access and process information on improved fish production technologies. Fish farmers should be encouraged to form cooperatives. This will confer on the fish farmers immense benefits that such organizations provide for their members, and the extension service should be strengthened to make it more vibrant and responsive to the needs of the farmers. Government should look into the extension services and meet up with their needs so as to give special attention to the fish farmers.