Adoption of Integrated Rice-Fish Farming Technology in Ebonyi State Nigeria: Perceived Effects and Constraints

Abstract

Nigeria is facing food security crisis with growing population that is increasingly dependent on imported foods. It is the most populous nation in Africa with over 180 million people to feed. This is happening in a country that has the potential to grow highly nutritious rice through rice-fish integration with its attendant sustainable developments. This study assessed the perceived effects and constraints militating against the use of integrated rice-fish farming technology in the area. A multistage sampling technique was used in the selection of respondents. Data were collected with the use of structured questionnaire administered to 243 rice-fish farmers. The questionnaire was structured to address the objectives and hypothesis of the study. The Mean score analysis and Standard deviation were used to analyze the perceived effects and constraints militating against the use of integrated rice-fish farming technology. The Hypotheses were tested using Z- test and Analysis of variance. The results of the study revealed that the effects mostly perceived by the farmers were improved household nutrition (M=3.11) and improved family income (M=3.09). It indicated that inadequate water supply to rice-fish farms (2.5) and scarcity of inputs (M=2.1) were mostly identified as the constraints to the use of integrated rice-fish farming technology. Extension agents should intensify educational extension visits so that the farmers will have timely information about the practice. There is need for government and intervention agencies to provide agricultural inputs to the farmers to encourage them in their farming practices. They should make extension services functional and provide policies that will drive the adoption of rice-fish farming technology.