Effective feedback mechanism in the transfer and adoption of fish technologies in south eastern Nigeria

The study was aimed at identifying effective feedback processes from fish farmers to fish research institute, fish farmers to extension and extension to fish research institute in the transfer and adoption of fish technologies in South East Geo-political zone of Nigeria. Two states in the zone (Abia and Imo) which are known for fish farming were chosen for the study. From each of the states, 60 fish farmers were selected making a total of 120 fish farmers. Furthermore, 45 extension staff were selected from each state making, this gave a total of 90 extension staff. Later 16 National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFR) scientists were selected. This gave a total of 226 respondents. Structured questionnaire was used to collect information from the sampled fish farmers, extension officers and the fish research institute scientists. Percentages, means and frequency count were used to analyse the data collected from the study. Result of the analyses shows that farmers visit to the extension officer and use of cell phone were the only effective feedback process between farmers and extension agents. Feedback process between the extension agents and the research scientists are established only through the Monthly Technology Review Meeting. None of the communication methods was effective in maintain appropriate feedback between farmers and the research scientists.Keywords: Feedback, Adoption, Transfer, Fish, Technologies, Farmer

Endogenous pathways and dissemination of personal cleanliness and family hygiene to rural farmers in South Eastern Nigeria

The study investigated the effectiveness of endogenous channels in transferring messages on personal cleanliness and family hygiene to rural farmers. The study was carried out in Southeastern Agro-Ecological zone of Nigeria. Four research objectives were proposed to guide the study. Multi stage sampling technique was used to select respondents for the study. Four states were selected for the study; two states that participated in UNICEF promoted community dialogue and two that never participated. Two LGAs were sampled from each of the states and from each LGA, two autonomous communities. Twenty-five respondents were sampled from each of the communities. This gave a total of two hundred respondents from each group of rural farmers. A set of questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. Frequency counts, percentages, mean as well as Z-Statistic were used to analyse the data collected from the study. Result of the analysis shows that respondents that participated in the community dialogue had better knowledge, attitude and behaviour towards the messages on personal cleanliness and family hygiene than the nonparticipants. Result of the Z-Statistic shows that at 1 per cent level of significance there are differences in the attitude and behaviour of participants and nonparticipants towards messages on personal cleanliness and family hygiene. Based on the result it was recommended that Non-Governmental Organisations, government agencies and media houses disseminating messages on sanitation and hygiene should use communication channels that are integrative and appeal to both the senses of the audience and their social status.Keywords: Message, Channel, Endogenous, Rural Transfer, and Communicatio