Roles Of Actors, Adoption Of Innovation, And Challenges Within The Fisheries Innovation System Among Producers In Adamawa State Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the roles of actors, adoption of innovation, and challenges within the fisheries innovation system in Adamawa State Nigeria. Data were collected from 200 respondents through field survey and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings revealed that the fisheries innovation system is characterized by the active participation of multiple actors, with the major roles including training manpower (25.0%), production and sales of fish (24.0%), training of other actors (17.5%), supply of funds and credit facilities (7.5%), technology generation (8.0%), and dissemination of generated technologies (7.0%). The study also showed that fish farmers, marketers, extension agents, researchers, feed millers, transporters, and drug dealers each contribute in different ways to the functioning of the system. Results further indicated that 97.0% of respondents were willing to adopt and implement innovations in fish production and marketing, suggesting a high potential for innovation uptake in the study area. However, several constraints were identified as major barriers to effective innovation, including poor access to capital, unfavorable government policies, insecurity/insurgency, inadequate capital, poor access to information, low literacy level, gender bias, and cultural factors. Among these, poor access to capital and insecurity were the most severe challenges. The study concludes that although the fisheries innovation system in Adamawa State has strong actor participation and high adoption potential, its performance is constrained by financial, institutional, and sociocultural limitations. It is recommended that government and stakeholders improve access to credit, strengthen extension services, enhance security, provide supportive policies, and promote inclusive participation to improve the sustainability and productivity of the fisheries sector in Adamawa State.