Backyard Fish Farmers Information needs in Osun State, Nigeria

The need for increase in fish production in order to improve protein intake by Nigerians led to this study. The study analyzed information needs of backyard fish farmers in Osun State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study investigated the socio-economic characteristics of backyard fish farmers, frequency of performance, importance and difficulties of management practices as well as the constraints facing backyard fish farming. Questionnaire was used to elicit information from 70 backyard fish farmers. The findings indicated that backyard fish farmers in Osun State were mostly males, middle aged, married and most of them rear catfish, Feeding and cleaning are frequently performed by the fish farmers, feeding and maintenance of water quality were of extreme importance and also cleaning and harvesting were found to be extremely difficult. The major constraints facing the fish farmers were capital, security, feed, fingerlings procurement. The paper concluded that backyard fish farmers need training on management practices