Abstract:
Fish farming has great potentials for ameliorating the problems of youths unemployed, poverty
and nutritional deficiencies because it has been found to be economically rewarding and capable
of providing vast employment, augmenting farmers’ income and improving standards of living of
the citizenry. The study assessed farmers’ awareness and adoption of fish farming technologies
in Obi-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. A sample of 87 fish farmers was selected
from the population of about 570 through multistage random sampling technique. Structured
interview schedule was used to collect relevant research data. Data were analyzed with descriptive
statistics (percentage and ranking). It was found that cat fish was cultured by more than 81% of
the respondents. More than 72% of the farmers were aware of the eight fish farming technologies
under study. More than 71% adopted aerator, flow through system, float fish feed and ova-prim
but adoption of pituitary gland and re-circulatory system were at very low ebbs. High cost of feed,
erratic power supply, inadequate capital and untimely or unavailability of production information
were the major constraints to adoption of fish farming technologies. It was recommended that
farmers continue to culture catfish which is hardy, easier to rear and tolerant to stressful conditions.
Intervention programmes should be implemented to ensure that farmers adopt technologies whose
adoptions were at low ebbs. The Government should subsidize the prices of fish feeds and other
inputs while improving the perennial poor power supply
