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Mechanisms Needed by Lecturers of Agricultural Education in Biological Fish Feeds Production for Sustainable Food Security

Nongugwa TD, Muhammed DI and Asogwa VC

This study identified the mechanisms needed by lecturers of agricultural education in biological fish feeds production for sustainable food security. Three questions were developed and three hypotheses were formulated for the study. Questionnaire survey research design was used for the study. The study was conducted in higher institutions (Universities and Colleges of Education) offering agricultural education in Benue State of Nigeria. The population of the study was 42 lecturers and the entire population was used for the study due to its small and manageable size; as such there was no sampling. Biological Fish Feeds Production Mechanisms Questionnaire (BFFPMQ) was developed and used for data collection. The questionnaire had a four-point response options of highly needed (HN), averagely needed (AN), slightly needed (SN) and not needed (NN) with a corresponding value of 4, 3, 2 and 1, respectively. Three experts validated the BFFPMQ items. Cronbach alpha reliability method was used to determine the internal consistency of the questionnaire items. A reliability coefficient of 0.87 was obtained. The data were collected by the researchers from the respondents with the help of four research assistants who were familiar with the area of the study. A total of 42 copies of the questionnaire were administered and all were retrieved within 5 days of administration. Data collected for the study were analyzed using mean to answer the research questions and t-test analysis to test the hypotheses. It was found that 12 mechanisms in daphnia production, 9 mechanisms in earthworm production and 7 mechanisms in magmeal production were needed by lecturers of agricultural education in biological fish feeds production for sustainable food security in Benue State. Recommendations, among others, were that lecturers of agricultural education should use the identified mechanisms to teach students how to produce biological fish feeds.