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Fisheries Extension in Bangladesh and Local Extension Agent for Fisheries: a Micro Level Assessment of Farmers’ Attitude

Zakir Ahmed
Former MS student
Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

M Asaduzzaman Sarker
Professor
Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

M Zulfikar Rahman
Professor
Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Baokun Lei
Deputy Director
Institute of Agricultural Environment & Resources, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming, China

M Zannatun Nahar Mukta
Assistant Professor
Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The present study was aimed to review the fisheries extension services in Bangladesh as well to assess fish farmers’ attitude towards extension services provided by the Local Extension Agent for Fisheries (from hereafter LEAF). Thus, both primary and secondary data were used to furnish this study. Primary data were obtained from 72 randomly selected fish farmers from Akua and Dapunia unions of Mymensingh Sadar Sub-district of Mymensingh district by using a structured interview schedule. The findings of the study shows that the fisheries extension services is still weaker in the country compared to crop and livestock extension services. It is also evident that 61.1 percent of the fish farmers had moderately favorable attitude towards extension services provided by LEAF, while 26.39 percent had a slightly favorable attitude. Conversely, 12.5 percent had highly favorable attitude towards extension services provided by LEAF. Correlation analysis indicates that the pond size and fish farming experience had significant and negative relationships. While extension media contact, training exposure on fish farming and innovativeness had significant positive relationships with their attitude towards extension services provided by LEAF. The study explored that there are still few strong problems like “LEAF has shallow knowledge on subject matter”, “Poor motivational capacity” and “Cannot provide solutions of all problems”. Finally, it could be concluded that if it is possible to employ more numbers of LEAF with an initiative to remove their deficiencies through intensive training they might contribute efficiently and play the key role in fisheries extension of Bangladesh.

Keywords: Extension service, Fisheries, LEAF, Attitude, Farmers, Bangladesh

Location: Mymensingh district, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-00-2015

End Date: 00-00-2015

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Fisheries diversity, Fish farmers, Attitude

Objectives:

The following specific objectives: 1. To determine and describe the selected characteristics of the fish farmers; 2. To determine the farmers’ attitude towards extension services provided by the LEAF; 3. To explore the relationship between the selected characteristics of the fish farmers and their attitude towards extension services provided by LEAF; and 4. To explore the problems faced by the fish farmers’ in receiving extension services provided by LEAF.

Methodology:

The study was conducted in Mymensingh Sadar Upazila (sub-district) under Mymensingh district. Two unions of Mymensingh Sadar namely Akua and dapunia were selected purposively for the study. As these two unions have huge aquaculture enterprises compared to other areas. Additionally LEAFs also provide extension services in these areas. The map of Mymensingh district and sadar Upazila of Mymensingh district. All the fish farmers of the selected two unions were the population of the study. Empirical data for the study were collected from fish farmers in the study area who received extension services from LEAF in maintaining his/her aquaculture enterprise. An updated list of all fish farmers who received extension services provided by LEAF were collected from the office of the Upazila Fisheries Officer (UFO). There were 235 fish farmers who were engaged in fish farming actively and received extension services provided by LEAF. From this list 31 percent of the fish farmers were selected randomly as the sample of the study. Therefore, a total of 72 farmers were selected as the sample of the study. A reserve list containing 10 fish farmers were also selected from the two unions. Data were collected by the researchers from the selected fish farmers. The interviews were conducted with the respondents individually in their respective houses or farms. The researchers took all possible care to establish rapport with the respondents so that they would not feel any trouble while starting the interview. If the respondents felt any difficulty in understanding any question, the researcher took the utmost care to explain and clarify the same properly. The researcher in collecting data faced no serious difficulty. Data were collected from 05 March to 27 March, 2015. Collected data were coded, categorized and analyzed. For analysis of data SPSS 16v. The software was used. Both explanatory (i.e., mean, standard deviation, frequency, percentage and rank order) and inferential statistics (i.e., correlation analysis) were used wherever necessary. In correlation analysis, we estimate a sample correlation coefficient, more specifically the Pearson Product Moment correlation coefficient. The sample correlation coefficient denoted r. Ranges between -1 and +1 and quantifies the direction and strength of the linear association between the two variables. The correlation between two variables can be positive (i.e., higher levels of one variable are associated with higher levels of the other) or negative (i.e., higher levels of one variable are associated with lower levels of the other). The sign of the correlation coefficient indicates the direction of the association. The magnitude of the correlation coefficient indicates the strength of the association.

Source of Information: International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 2018; 6(4): 92-103

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Effective extension services is very essential in maintaining growth in the fish production of the country. It is well established from the findings of the study that the fisheries extension service is relatively weaker among all public sector extension service providers in the country. However, the initiative of introducing LEAF in fisheries extension services at the grassroots level through NATP project was a very timely decision for reforming and revitalizing fisheries extension services in the country. However, due to do not having sufficient technical knowledge and limited experiences of extension services fish farmers had slightly favourable to moderately favourable attitudes towards extension services provided by the LEAF. It is also explored by the study that the services of LEAF is helping a few of the fish farmers in solving their problems to maintain their fish farms. However, if it is possible to organize an intensive training programme for the LEAF to remove their technical deficiencies it would be fantastic to harvest their potent extension services in building an efficient fisheries sector in the country which will ultimately contribute in improving nutritional security as well as poverty reduction of the country.

Knowledge Management: Journal