Author/Authors :
olorunfemi, oluwasogo david north west university, mafikeng campus - faculty of agriculture, science and technology - department of agricultural economics and extension, south africa , olorunfemi, oluwasogo david university of ilorin - faculty of agriculture - department of agricultural extension and rural development, Nigeria , adekunle, oluwasegun adetokunbo north west university, mafikeng campus - faculty of agriculture, science and technology - department of agricultural economics and extension, South Africa , oladipo, felix olayinka north west university, mafikeng campus - faculty of agriculture - department of agricultural economics and extension, science and technology, South Africa , oladele, temitope oluwaseun north west university, mafikeng campus - faculty of agriculture, science and technology - department of agricultural economics and extension, South Africa , oladele, oladimeji idowu university of ilorin - faculty of agriculture - department of agricultural extension and rural development, Nigeria
Abstract :
The research investigated the training needs of fish farmers’ on value addition initiatives in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. Data were collected using a two-stage sampling technique to select one hundred and sixty respondents for the study. A purposive selection of two Local Government Areas each from the two Agricultural Development Programme administrative zones (Zones C and D) in Kwara State where fish farming is prominent and well-practiced was carried out. Forty fish farmers were then randomly selected from the fish farmers’ association chapter present in each selected Local Government Area. Interview- schedule was used to elicit information from the respondents. The findings revealed that the fish farmers were economically active with a mean age of 42.5 years, majority (73.1%) were males, married (74.4%) and had one level of formal education or the other (82.5%). Chi-square analysis revealed a significant relationship between the respondents’ training needs on value addition initiatives and their age, educational level, years of experience and fish farm income. The value addition initiatives use profile of the fish farmers was still very low among the respondents and training was highly needed on value addition initiatives in seven major areas. It was recommended that robust training programmes and advisory services should be packaged by extension organizations and other stakeholders for fish farmers in the major areas of capacity deficiencies indicated so as to enhance their use of value addition initiatives from production to marketing.
Keywords :
Training needs , Fish farmers , Value addition initiatives , Kwara State , Nigeria
