DETERMINANTS OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES IN CATFISH FARMING AMONG COMMERCIAL FISH FARMERS IN YENAGOA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BAYELSA STATE

This study was on determinants of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) in catfish farming among commercial fish farmers in Yenagoa Local Government Area (YELGA), Bayelsa State. The objective was to describe the socio-economic characteristics of fish farmers while the hypothesis was; the socioeconomic characteristics of commercial fish farmers do not determine their GAPs implementation in catfish farming. A total of 77 fish farmers; randomly chosen from a list obtained from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, formed the sample size, and structured questionnaire used to obtain data. Data collected were analysed via descriptive and inferential statistics of mean, percentage and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) Multiple Regression analysis. Results of this study revealed that fish farming in YELGA is dominated by married (77.92%) males (87.01%) who are at their youthful age (41.05 years), maintain average household size of approximately 7 persons and have average fish farming experience of 8 years approximately. Also, YELGA commercial fish farmers are degree holders with average of approximately 16 years formal schooling. Majority (74.03%) maintain extension contact, stocked 2,419 fishes approximately per production cycle on the average; from which they make average annual income of ₦1,093,506.00. Regression result at α ≤ 0.05 indicates; Education (X4) with t-ratio = 2.1853, Fish farming experience (X5) with t-ratio = 1.9969, Stock size (X6) with t-ratio = -4.6738, Extension contact (X8) with t-ratio = 1.9615 and Annual income (X9) with t-ratio = 4.0794 were the socioeconomic variables that determined GAPs use among commercial fish farmers in YELGA. Thus legislation and advocacy by government, donor agencies and stakeholders focused on farmers’ socioeconomic variables of importance in sustaining GAPs implementation was recommended.