Main Article Content
Abstract
Purpose. Preventable disease losses, weak post-harvest handling and poorly organised marketing continue to erode fish-farm income in Enugu State. This study identified the work skills required to improve disease control, preservation and marketing among commercial fish farmers.
Methodology. A descriptive survey was used. A multi-stage sample of 186 respondents (142 farmers and 44 extension officers) completed a validated 48-item inventory on a four-point scale. Cronbach’s alpha was .89, .86 and .88 for the three clusters. Means and independent-samples t-tests were applied, with a cut-off of 2.50.
Findings. All 16 disease-control, 15 preservation and 17 marketing skills were rated required. Highest-rated skills were recognition of hemorrhagic septicemia and white-spot disease, water-quality testing, quarantine, hygienic stunning and icing, controlled smoking, live-fish handling, weight-based pricing and record keeping. No cluster differed significantly between farmers and extension officers (p > .05).
Originality. The paper integrates the three downstream domains that most directly determine whether a production cycle becomes retained income, extending earlier Enugu inventories that focused on pond construction and feeding.
Research implications. Agricultural education and extension should treat aquatic animal health, post-harvest technology and market literacy as co-equal competency domains, not as optional add-ons to pond construction and feeding.