DETERMINANTS OF BACKYARD FISH FARMERS’ WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR EXTENSION SERVICES IN KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA

Authors: Habibu Aisha Kusada, Muhammad Ibrahim Usman & Ibrahim Mus’ab

ABSTRACT

This study assessed the determinants of backyard fish farmers’ willingness to pay for extension services in Katsina state, Nigeria. A two-stage sampling procedure was used to select 100 backyard fish farmers from 10 villages in Katsina Local Government Area. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire administered through the KoboCollect platform and analyzed using descriptive statistics, percentages and mean ranking. The findings showed that the respondents had varied socioeconomic characteristics, including differences in age, education, income, household size, farming experience and exposure to extension services. Most respondents had received extension support, although the frequency of contact varied. A high proportion of the farmers, 89%, expressed willingness to pay for extension services. The main reasons for willingness to pay were access to improved technology (36%), minimization of production losses (24%), increased income (22%) and improved productivity (18%). Reported payment amounts varied considerably, indicating that willingness to pay may not correspond equally to farmers’ ability to pay. The study concludes that backyard fish farmers in Katsina State represent a potentially strong market for demand-driven extension services, provided that such services are practical, reliable and financially accessible. It recommends flexible payment arrangements, cooperative-based delivery, regular field contact, mobile advisory channels and extension content focused on production technologies, feed management, disease control, water quality, record keeping and marketing. Future studies should use inferential models to distinguish the determinants of willingness to pay from those influencing the amount farmers are willing and able to contribute.

Keywords: backyard fish farming; willingness to pay; agricultural extension; aquaculture; Katsina State.

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