Kwamena Quagrainie Purdue University, USA Steve Amisah Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Ghana

 Main species are tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and catfish (Clarias gariepinus)  Total production about 950 mt/year  Farms concentrated in Ashanti region  Majority of farmers are small-scale operators using extensive fish farming practices

 In 2005 Government took steps to support and accelerate aquaculture development by providing ◦ extension services ◦ training in fish farming techniques ◦ training in basic bookkeeping & business plan preparation ◦ fingerlings for sale to fish farmers

 Government parastatals  Non-Governmental Organizations – GTZ, FAO, WorldFish Center, etc  Universities  Farmer groups

 Where do farmers obtain information about fish farming?  What is the source of technical assistantship on fish farming?  What factors influence farmers’ choice of information source?

 Questionnaire solicited information on: ◦ Source of information for aquaculture ◦ Demographics ◦ General Farm operations ◦ Fish Farm operations

 Regional responses  Ashanti = 72%  Brong-Ahafo = 28%  Males = 91%  Average age = 53yrs  Years farming = 20yrs  Literacy rate = 84%  Primary = 13%  Secondary = 35%  Adult Ed = 11%  Post-Sec = 33%

 Average agricultural farm size = 44 acres  Average pond acreage = 1 acre

Dependent Variable (Aqua Info Source) Y0 = Government Y1 = NGOs Y2 = Other Farmers Y3 = University Y4 = Other Explanatory variables  Region; Ashanti=1, otherwise=0  Number of years farming  Educational level; Read/write=1, otherwise=0  Total pond acreage

Variable Y=00 Gov Y=01 NGO Y=02 OFM Y=03 UNI Y=04 OTH Ashanti region Farming years Literacy Pond acreage Actual61%4%23%1%10% Predicted Prob59%5%25%1%10% Overall % Correct Prediction 61% Pseudo R-squared 0.14

 Ashanti Region farmers  Farmers have increasing probability of sourcing information from NGOs (7%), university (2%) and other sources (27%)  But a declining probability of obtaining aquaculture information from the government (-27%) and other farmers (-8%) (Relative to Brong-Ahafo farmers)

 Number of years farming  With more experience in farming, there is increasing probability of farmers seeking aquaculture information from the government (8%) and other farmers (10%)  But a decreasing probability of sourcing information from NGOs (-5%), university (-1%) and other sources (-12%)

 Literacy  Literate farmers have an increasing probability of obtaining aquaculture information from the government (43%)  But a de creasing probability of sourcing information from all others (Relative to Illiterates)

 Pond Acreage  With larger pond acreage, there is increasing probability of farmers seeking aquaculture information from the government (34%), NGOs (3%), other farmers (0.4%), and other sources (5%).  But a decreasing probability of sourcing information from university (-41%).

 Government support for aquaculture development is critical since most factors indicated a positive effect on probability of sourcing from government (literacy 48%; Acreage 34%).  Ashanti region farmers have a 27% probability of obtaining aquaculture information from other sources (Previous knowledge from schooling, self-education, etc). Reveals the impact of aquaculture curriculum in schools.  Except for being in Ashanti region (2%), literacy (-2%), experience (-1%) and farmers with larger acreages (-41%) have a decreasing probability of seeking aquaculture information from the university. Suggest that outreach activities of universities, e.g. KNUST should go beyond Ashanti region.

 The impact of factors indicated a low effect on probability of sourcing from NGOs (Ashanti 7%; Experience -5%; literacy -10%; Acreage 2%). NGOs usually provide one-time assistance during the project period and do not have field personnel to offer continuous assistance.  The impact of factors indicated a low effect on probability of seeking information from other farmers (Ashanti -8%; Experience -6%; literacy -6%; Acreage 0.4%).

This study was sponsored by the Aquaculture & Fisheries Collaborative Research Support Program (AquaFish CRSP) funded under USAID Grant No. EPP-A and by Purdue University, USA and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.