This study was conducted to isolate the determinants of improved fish production technologies in Delta State, Nigeria. Data were collected from a sample population of 250 fish farmers from ten randomly selected Local Government Areas of Delta State. The data were elicited from respondents with the use of structured interview schedule while descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The recommended fish farming technologies at different stages of adoption process were p H testing and regulation, testing of dissolved oxygen level, feed formulation, polyculture, practices integrated fish/poultry or rice farming, re-circulation method, cage system, spawning and stocking density. The level of adoption was low. The grand mean adoption score and adoption index are 1.02 and 0.10, respectively. The low level of adoption was attributed to cost of the technologies, their complexities and lack of extension contact. The level of education, age of farmers, farm size, farm income and extension contact were the major determinants of fish production technologies adoption at 0.05 level of significance.
A total number of 338 specimens of Macrobrachium vollenhovenii were bought from fisher folks who fished from Ubeji, Jala and Soroghagbene; but marketed their landings at Ubeji. Specimens were collected at monthly intervals between March and November, 2011. The male to female sex ratio established was 1:2:3. The size at first maturity was 9.0 cm for males and 10.0 cm for females. The length-weight relationship revealed an increase in total length of each specimen as body weight increased. The regression coefficient 'r' was significant at p< 0.05 for male (0.901) and female (0.644) specimens. An average condition factor of 3.9 and 2.74 was recorded for males and females respectively. The Gonado-Somatic-Index (GSI) was generally higher, especially during the month of July for females (0.60) than for males (0.50). Distinct histological changes were observed in the gonads of both sexes. Gonad development revealed five distinct stages (dominant, developing, developed, ripe and spent) for both sexes. Fecundity ranged between 5,540-28,470 eggs, and was highly correlated with total length (0.979) but not with body weight (0.185). Fecundity was highest in the month of July (20,113) and lowest in the month of August (6,140). It could be concluded that matured specimens probably spawn, in March and in July, when GSI were at their peaks. This pattern of breeding suggests that they were capable of multiple spawning within a single reproductive season.
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