Exploring the Perception of Fish Farmers Regarding Farmers' Information and Advice Centers in Selected Areas of Bangladesh

Ensuring the success of fish farming is crucial for food security and economic development in Bangladesh. Farmers' Information and Advice Centers (FIACs) provide essential guidance to fish farmers. Considering the issues, the study therefore, assessed the perception of 117 fish farmers in Melandah and Islampur upazilas (sub-districts), Jamalpur district, regarding FIAC services, which are important to providing support for farmer's needs through FIAC. Data were collected through structured questionnaire from the sampled fish farmers during 16 August to 30 September 2022. Fish farmers' perception on FIAC was the focus variable and it was measured using a 4-point rating scale. Results showed an overwhelming majority of farmers (92.3%) had moderately favourable perceptions of FIAC services, while only a few had highly favourable perceptions. Correlation analyses revealed significant relationship between education, income, experience, training, and media contact with farmers' perceptions, indicating external factors determining the effectiveness of FIAC activities. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that experience in fish farming, training on fish farming and extension media contact were the influential variables that could significantly contribute to their perception and these variables could explain 32.4% variation. Concerning challenges, the most pressing issues included inadequate staffing, insufficient infrastructure for meetings, and inadequate long-term training programs through FIACs. These findings underscore the need for tailored, demand-driven services to enhance fish farmers' perceptions of FIAC services and improve their overall fish farming experiences.