FISHERIES EXTENSION

PURPOSE OF FISHERIES EXTENSION, DIFFUSION AND ADOPTION OF FISHERIES INNOVATION

The primary purpose of fisheries extension is to extend knowledge about improved technology (innovation) to the end users in order to solve problems.

-Extension should work with all the members of the family i.e men, women, young and old, rich and poor. The family should be regarded as a working unit in the home and in the field.
-Extension should provide maximum opportunity for the people to work on programmes that had been determined by them and the extension agent.
-Extension should work with well-trained leaders who can sell its program to its clientele.
-Extension should be based on fact and knowledge. This is done by working in close collaboration with researchers and the farmers. It is from the research institute that factual knowledge is drawn, translated by the Subject Matter Specialists (SMSs) in a form that the farmers understand and digest.
-Extension should promote the use and development of volunteer leaders. It is through the leaders that extension can reach more farmers and educate them the need for change.
-Extension functions educationally through assisting fisherfolk and fish farmers to make their own decision among various alternatives put before them.

DIFFUSION AND ADOPTION OF FISHERIES INNOVATION (Stages of Adoption)

(a)Level of awareness – The learner cannot decide to accept any practice until he has become aware of it. One of the fisheries extension functions is to help fisherfolk and fish farmers recognize their needs by bringing research findings to them.

(b)Developing of interest – Getting the interest of the end users can only be done after an awareness of the S.M. to stimulate fisherfolk and fish farmers’latent interest, the extension worker must make the message appealing and in line with the clientele needs.

(c)Desire – The fisherfolk and fish farmer now wants to know more about the practice, his desire is getting more specific and he begins to think of the practice in terms of himself and his own conditions and environment. He then looks for the fisheries extension worker for more information.

(d)Conviction – The fisherfolk and fish farmer begin to feel that the practice is for him in his own situation and he begins to feel confident that he can be successful in doing it. The extension workers help them through encouragement, demonstration and other forms of individual and group, contact methods

(e)Action – After conviction, the fisherfolk and fish farmer is ready for action. The extension worker has an obligation to ensure that all materials and equipments necessary are obtained.

(f)Satisfaction – A fisherfolk and fish farmer making a change must be happy with the change. Unless satisfaction comes from the first change; the farmer will not be too keen on making another change later.