Tropicultura (Jan 2005)
Adoption of Improved Fish Preservation Technologies in Northwestern Nigeria
Abstract
A study was conducted to determine the status of awareness and adoption of disseminated improved post-harvest fisheries technologies among fish processors in the northwestern zone of Nigeria using structured questionnaire to obtain information from fish processors and secondary data collected from the Agricultural Development Projects (ADPs) and some Research Institutes in the selected states. A multistage sampling technique was adopted in the selection of four states in the zone (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Kebbi). Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation. The variables were tested at 5% level of significance. Results of data analysis showed that about 66% of respondents were in the economically active age group of 21-40 years and the mean age was 32 years. About 89% were males; 83.7% had only koranic education, while 28.7% had between 6-10 years processing experience and equally 28.7% had over 20 years processing experience. The mean year of experience was 17.5 years. Only about 43.1% of respondents were aware of improved fish smoking kilns disseminated in the zone, with about 32% adopting one kiln or the other. Improved smoking kilns disseminated include Chokor, Altona, Burkinabe, and Watanabe. Major constraints to adoption of improved fish processing and preservation technologies in the zone include scarcity of improved kilns, high cost of kilns when available, difficult technical features of the kilns and insufficient awareness creation by the ADPs. Results of Pearson's correlation analysis on socio-economic factors influencing adoption showed that year of experience (r, 0.02), extension contacts (r, 0.03), access to credit (r, 0.01) and "contact farmers status" (r, 0.00) were significant (P≠ 0.05) in positively influencing the adoption of Chokor oven. Burkinabe kiln's adoption was significantly (P≠ 0.05) and positively influenced by age (r, 0.04), acquisition cost (r, 0.02) and access to credit (r, 0.02). Altona kiln's adoption on the other hand was significantly (P≠ 0.05) and positively (r, 0.00) influenced by the educational achievement of processors. The study concluded that concerted policies by government geared towards post-harvest loss reduction in fisheries must aim at making the designing of improved kiln appropriate to the clienteles' needs so as to increase fish protein supply in the zone and improve the production level, income level, and standard of living of fish processors.
