Awareness and Adoption of Indigenous Technical Knowledge in Aquaculture in Some Local Government Areas of Ibadan Metropolis, Oyo State

Abstract

The study documented and evaluated the extent of awareness and degree of adoption of indigenous knowledge systems in fish farming within selected local government areas in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Purposive and random sampling methods were used to identify 122 respondents across four selected local government areas. a total of fifteen (15) Indigenous Technical Knowledges(ITKs) were identified and documented with respect to pond construction, water quality management, feed management, fish health management, and postharvest handling. The study also identified and documented the constraints perceived by the fish farmers, alongside their proposed strategies for addressing these limitations, with the aim of preserving ITKs and enhancing its integration into broader aquaculture practices. The analysis revealed that majority of the sampled subjects (62 respondents, 50.8%) identified indigenous technical knowledge as a knowledge system developed within a community, while 34 respondents (27.9%) perceived it as a culturally rooted value, additionally 60.7% of the respondents indicated that they practice or adopt one or more forms of indigenous knowledge on their farms. The study concludes and recommends documentation, validation, and scientific interventions to integrate indigenous knowledge into sustainable aquaculture practices