Effective Implementation of Fishery Policies for Food Security in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The paper explored the effective implementation of fishery policies for food security in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Three specific objectives, three research questions and three null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted the descriptive survey design. The target population for the study were all the 242 agricultural science teachers in all the public secondary schools in the study area. Since the targeted population of 242 was manageable, it was therefore adopted as the sample of the study. Hence, the census sampling technique was used. The instrument used for data collection was a 25-item questionnaire, structured on a 4-point scale. The instrument was face-validated by three professionals in agricultural education from the Department of Agricultural Science Education, Faculty of Education, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State. The reliability was determined using the Cronbach Alpha statistical tool, and a reliability index of 0.83 was obtained. Out of the 242 copies of the questionnaire that were administered to the respondents, 226 were retrieved, representing a 93.5% retrieval rate, which were used for the analysis. Mean was applied to analyse the data, and the t-test was employed to compute the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study identified six (6) fisheries policies and their objectives, eleven (11) problems of policy implementation and eight (8) measures for effective implementation of fisheries policies. There was no significant difference in the mean ratings of the responses of male and female agricultural science teachers on the measures for effective implementation of fisheries policies in Bayelsa State. The study recommended among others, that grants, incentives, farm inputs, subsidies and loans should be given to farmers to enhance food security in the nation.