DETERMINANTS OF FISH FARMERS' WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR PRIVATE EXTENSION SERVICES IN UYO AGRICULTURAL ZONE, AKS

Abstract

The study examined the determinants of fish farmers’ willingness to pay for privately provided extension services in Akwa Ibom State. Their socioeconomics and fish farming characteristics, the type of extension services needed, constraints to the willingness to pay, and the factors that affect their willingness to pay for privately provided extension services were also identified. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit data from 120 fish farmers, randomly selected across the study area. Descriptive statistics and a logistic regression model were used to analyse the data. The results showed that a sizeable number (55.8%) of fish farmers in the study area were willing to pay for privately provided extension services, while 44.2% of the respondents were not. Extension services in high demand by the fish farmers were information and technical knowhow on record keeping (3.50) breeding and method of improving fingerling breeds (3.45), construction of the modern ponds (3.44), selection of fish species (3.42) and water quality management (3.42). Fish farmers were constrained by inadequate capital or financial incapability. The fish farmers’ willingness to pay for privately provided services was driven by age (0.860), stock size (1.206), their knowledge level towards private extension service (0.795), and the type of extension services needed (1.131). There is a need for private extension service providers to render professional services to fish farmers in the State. Therefore, the fishery extension delivery system in Akwa Ibom State should be restructured through an agricultural extension transformation agenda to encourage this.