PARTICIPATION AND MOTIVATION OF AQUACULTURE FARMERS IN FARMER-TO-FARMER KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER IN EDO SOUTH ZONE, EDO STATE, NIGERIA
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Abstract
Aquaculture has become a critical element of the world’s food security chain and provides a sustainable approach to protein security, poverty alleviation, and diversification of living resources. This study was conducted to assess participation and motives in the farmer-to-farmer knowledge transfer program for aquaculture farmers of the Edo South Agricultural Zone. The specific aims of the research were to: describe the socio-economic characteristics of aquaculture farmers in the study area; ascertain the level of participation of aquaculture farmers in farmer-to-farmer knowledge transfer
initiatives in the study area; determine the motivations of aquaculture farmers in farmerto-farmer knowledge transfer in the study area; and determine the constraints faced by
aquaculture farmers in participating in farmer-to-farmer knowledge transfer in the study
area. The multistage sampling technique was used to obtain a sample of 120 aquaculture
farmers from three cluster communities from Ikpoba- Okha LGA. Data were collected
using structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential
statistics tools such as frequency count, percentages, mean and standards deviation. Hypotheses were tested using Pearson correlation at 0.05 level of significance. Results showed farmers mostly of males (52%), with a mean age of 43, with (97%) attaining at least secondary education. The majority (62%) ranked aquaculture as their
primary occupation. The level of farmer participation within the knowledge-transfer
program remains high, with a mean score of 3.33 to 4.24, representing high levels of
farmer participation, notably during pond construction (100%), feeding (94.9%), drug
administration (100%), and harvest (99.2%). However, participation is low concerning
feed formulation (14.4%), pond fertilization (16.1%), and marketing (39.0%). The
absence of formal training programs related to knowledge sharing (mean of 3.75), the
absence of organized learning platforms (mean of 3.50), and the lack of trust within the
knowledge shared (mean of 3.02) were the major constraints. The results also showed
that households size (–0.250; p = 0.006) was significant. While the level of motivation
possessed a significant positive relationship (correlation coefficient of r = 0.427, a
significance level of p = 0.000). it was concluded that knowledge-transfer program
among farmers is important within the promotion of aquaculture innovation and
alleviates the low formal extension framework within Edo State. It was recommended
that the level of participation within the knowledge-transfer program represents a positive
initiatives in the study area; determine the motivations of aquaculture farmers in farmerto-farmer knowledge transfer in the study area; and determine the constraints faced by
aquaculture farmers in participating in farmer-to-farmer knowledge transfer in the study
area. The multistage sampling technique was used to obtain a sample of 120 aquaculture
farmers from three cluster communities from Ikpoba- Okha LGA. Data were collected
using structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential
statistics tools such as frequency count, percentages, mean and standards deviation. Hypotheses were tested using Pearson correlation at 0.05 level of significance. Results showed farmers mostly of males (52%), with a mean age of 43, with (97%) attaining at least secondary education. The majority (62%) ranked aquaculture as their
primary occupation. The level of farmer participation within the knowledge-transfer
program remains high, with a mean score of 3.33 to 4.24, representing high levels of
farmer participation, notably during pond construction (100%), feeding (94.9%), drug
administration (100%), and harvest (99.2%). However, participation is low concerning
feed formulation (14.4%), pond fertilization (16.1%), and marketing (39.0%). The
absence of formal training programs related to knowledge sharing (mean of 3.75), the
absence of organized learning platforms (mean of 3.50), and the lack of trust within the
knowledge shared (mean of 3.02) were the major constraints. The results also showed
that households size (–0.250; p = 0.006) was significant. While the level of motivation
possessed a significant positive relationship (correlation coefficient of r = 0.427, a
significance level of p = 0.000). it was concluded that knowledge-transfer program
among farmers is important within the promotion of aquaculture innovation and
alleviates the low formal extension framework within Edo State. It was recommended
that the level of participation within the knowledge-transfer program represents a positive
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