Utilization of Cyber Extension Technologies among Fish Farmers in Osun State Nigeria

Abstract

The study analyzed the utilization of cyber extension technologies among fish farmers in Osun state Nigeria. Structured interview schedule was used to elicit primary data from 160 fish farmers selected through simple random sampling. Findings revealed that the mean number of ponds owned by the respondents was 5ponds. The mean years spent in formal schooling and fish farming experience were 15.5years and 6.8years respectively. There was high utilization of smartphone (Mean = 2.1) and laptop (Mean = 1.2) for cyber extension information on fish production. There was positive and significant relationships between respondents’ age (r= 0.566; p ≤ 0.05); household size (r=0.598; p ≤ 0.05); number of years spent schooling (r= 0.532; p ≤0.05); number of ponds owned (r= 0.268; p ≤ 0.05), annual income (r= 0.525; p ≤ 0.05) and utilization level of cyber extension technologies among fish farmers. The study concludes that high utilization of cyber extension technologies of smartphone and labtop are highly beneficial to obtaining fish production information The study recommended that fish farming information packages on cyber extension should address the identified challenges of poor technical know-how, this will assist farmer to improve their knowledge and use better strategies for fish production.