Capabilities for Use of Improved Catfish Production Technologies among Fish Farmers in Delta State, Nigeria

The survey was conducted to assess use of improved catfish production technologies among fish farmers in Delta State, Nigeria. Data were collected from a sample of 50 different fish farmers in Delta State using questionnaire. Frequency, percentage and mean score were used in analyzing data for the study. Results indicated that majority (70.0%) of the respondents were male, 40.0% were between the ages of 25 and 34 years, 72.0% were married, 60.0% had a household size of 6-10 persons, 50.0% got an annual income of above ₦300,000 with 92.0% having formal education. Sources of funds for the respondents were personal savings (60.0%), friends/relations (20.0%), cooperative society (12.0%) and loans from banks (8.0%). Findings showed that improved catfish production technologies used by the respondents included fortification of cat fish feeds using root and tuber crops (M= 2.2), improved techniques in pond construction and maintenance (M= 1.7), non-conventional feed stuff for catfish (M= 1.6), fertilization and liming of catfish pond (M= 1.6), improving water quality in catfish culture (M= 1.3), prevention and control of catfish diseases (M=1.0), among others. Also, constraints to use of improved catfish production technologies were inadequate processing and storage facilities (M= 2.5), disease infestation (M= 2.3), high cost of feeds (M= 2.2), high cost of inputs (M= 2.1), inadequate funds (M= 2.1), poor market network (M= 2.0), etc. The study recommended that financial institutions should ensure timely availability of credit facilities to enable catfish farmers make provision for improved processing and storage facilities in order to boost their productivity.