THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECTS ON ADOPTION OF AQUACULTURE TECHNOLOGY AMONG FISH FARMERS IN ANAMBRA STATE NIGERIA

The study investigated the effect of socio-economic factors on the adoption behaviour of aquaculture operators. A combination of purposive and multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 12 blocks, 20 circles ahd 40 cells from the 4 ADP zones in the state for the study. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire through interview schedule from 144 randomly selected respondents and analysed with descriptive and ihferential statistical tools. The result showed that aquaculture is dominated by homestead (74.8%) small-scale operators within the ageing workforce of 41-55 years with low youth and women participation. Sampled respondents have a total of 306 fish ponds measuring 21,226.8m2 capable of producing more than 21 thousand tonnes of fish. Despite 67.6% aggregate adoption of technologies, low experience (51.1%>) and weak economic motive (28.4%) affected investment and fish productivity. Technologies that recorded high adoption are culture system (94.4%), use of oxygen bag (91.7%), feeding time (91.0%), pond system (84.7%) and water quality management (83.4%). Variables such as sex, marital status, education and membership of association were not significantly associated with adoption of technology except type of association (p=0.00). Analysis of PPMC (p>0.051) reaffirmed that aquaculture production is not significantly associated with poverty reduction (0.323) among operators. By implication, social assets are weak to support economic growth and development of aquaculture among fish farmers. Therefore, economic motive and access to production resources in terms of appropriate technology application, sensitization, training, effective extension delivery and credit facilities are required to increase strength and opportunities for economic benefi