The impact of improved environmental management practices on small scale catfish production: Experimental evidence from coastal Nigeria

Increased environmental footprint and poor performance of aquaculture have been attributed to a lack of information and weak technical knowledge by small-scale farmers, who are the majority. This study aims to use an experimental procedure to determine if providing training and technical support will lead to adopting improved environmental management practices (EMPs) and enhanced performance. The study uses 700 catfish farmers split into two equal groups: one treatment group and one control group. The treatment group will be offered a package comprising training and technical support. Baseline and end-line data will be collected with a structured questionnaire. Multivariate probit model and difference-in-difference impact estimation procedure will be applied in data analysis. The study will provide knowledge of the factors influencing adoption and the impact of adopting improved EMPs. This will guide policy and actions for sustainable aquaculture development and poverty reduction.