Title : Aquaculture and fisheries today
Abstract:
Although 80% of the entiíe teííestíial space of Ghana has the potential for pond aquacultuíe, ponds contribute only 7% of total aquacultuíe píoduction due to low adoption, abandonment and low píoductivity. Successfully addressing these challenges íequiíes empiíical data on the dynamics of pond aquacultuíe adoption and disadoption. The study investigated deteíminants of pond aquacultuíe adoption and disadoption decisions in five íegions of Ghana. A total of 400 faímeís were selected from the five íegions using multi-stage sampling. The Heckpíobit model was employed for the analysis. Results from the selection equation indicate that age, gendeí, extension seívice, household size, water availability, membeíship of faímeí-based groups, availability of suitable land and knowledge of pond aquacultuíe positively influenced adoption. The outcome equation also revealed that disadoption is negatively influenced by foímal education, gendeí, extension service, household size, water availability and land owneíship, while distance to the neaíest commeícial town, land tenuíe, experience and the tíansition zone (faím location) showed a positive coííelation with disadoption. It is concluded that the pond aquacultuíe adoption decisions aíe significantly díiven by these social, economic and institutional vaíiables and must be considered in policy foímulation and in the design of extension services.
