Fisheries extension in Bangladesh and local extension agent for fisheries: A micro level assessment of farmers’ Attitude

Abstract

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 structured interview schedule. 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 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.