Adoption of Fish Production Improved Measures for Climate Change Adaptation by Farmers in Ekeremor Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Fish production which provides employment opportunity, income and food security in developing African countries is currently affected by climate variability. This study therefore examine fish production improved strategies adopted by farmers for climate change adaptation in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Southern Nigeria. A total of sixty fish farmers randomly selected from six major Ekeremor communities participated in the study using interview schedule. Data from the respondents were analyzed by the use of percentage and mean scores derived from Likert types scales. The study found flooding; change in strength of storm and flooding; change in strength of storm, precipitation pattern and flooding; increased temperature, change in wind direction and strength of flooding; sea level rise and flooding as major climate change features in the area. Farmers’ perceived climate change effects in the area included low fish production, high cost of fish production, low growth rate, reproduction inefficiency, high fish mortality and susceptibility of fish to diseases and toxicants. The study further revealed that culturing high disease resistant fish species, aquaculture diversification, and aquaculture zoning and monitoring were the major fish production improved measures adopted by the farmers. The farmers’ ineffectiveness in adopting the improved adaptive measures were caused by illiteracy (m=2.50), inadequate finance (m=3.5), lack of insurance cover (m = 2.90), lack of competent fishery extension agents (m = 3.36), poor access to capital (m = 2.85), lack of government assistance (m = 2.93) and high cost of energy (m = 2.60). The study  concludes that measures such as qualified fishery extension personnel, appropriate insurance policy and government soft loan should be available to encourage the farmers improve and sustained their fish production.

Keywords: Improved Adaptive Measures, Fish Production, Climate Change.