Digital Platforms and Mobile Technology in Aquaculture Communication Among Fish Farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria
Vol. 12 No. 2 (2024), Articles
Vol. 12 No. 2 (2024)

Digital Platforms and Mobile Technology in Aquaculture Communication Among Fish Farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria

Articles
Published September 22, 2024
Mundi, N. E.
Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, National Open University of Nigeria, Kaduna Campus,
Awolumate, S.
Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, National Open University of Nigeria, Kaduna Campus
Ambassador-Brikins, H.O.C.
Department of Mass Communication, Faculty of Social Sciences, National Open University of Nigeria, Jabi- Abuja
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Keywords

Channels
Communication
Fish Farmers
Extension Agents
Information

Abstract

The study examined how fish farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria, utilized communication channels. Two hundred fish farmers were chosen using stratified and simple random sampling techniques. One hundred and eighty-seven valid questionnaires were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings showed that 77.1% of fish farmers received information on aquacultural innovations through the Train-and-Visit system. Most respondents (63.6%) preferred this system because of its accessibility (56.5%), ease of understanding (24.0%), and cost-effectiveness (6.9%). However, challenges such as irregular visits of extension agents, insufficient training, inconsistent information, and delayed communication were reported. For radio and television, limitations included the lack of direct interaction with extension agents, language barriers, high equipment costs, and network service issues. Additionally, 63.6% of respondents reported the unavailability of printed materials in their localities, while 31.6% were illiterate, and 4.8% faced language barriers in understanding English. The study recommends distributing extension guides in local languages and equipping extension agents with improved communication tools like mobile platforms to better meet the needs of fish farmers.

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