The Mechanization of Fish Farms in Rivers State, Nigeria

A total of 306 machines and equipment were examined from five local government areas viz Port Harcourt, Okrika, Obio-Akpor, Ogu-Bolo and Eleme as a case study in Rivers State, Nigeria. This study revealed the following values for each type of available machines and equipment: pelleting machines, 85 (27.7%);water pump, 71 (23.2%); generator, 38 (12.4%); air pump, 27 (8.8%);milling machine, 31(10.1%); mixer, 6 (2.0%); dryer, 3 (4.2%); oven, 8 (5.9%);pH meter, 2(0.7%) and dissolved oxygen meter, 2 (0.7%). Diesel engine, 76 (72.4%) was favoured as the prominent prime mover for the machines. Installation of air pump to enhance the dissolved oxygen level had contributed immensely to increase the stocking rate beyond normal rate of 30 fishes/m to 2 150-200 fishes/m .Women, 34 (68%) dominated the post harvest processing of fish while men were 2 predominately in fish, 65.75% and fish feed production, 63.2%. This study revealed poor operational and maintenance practices of the machines by the operators and this consequently affected the functional life span of the machines. The sex of machine operators was depended on the type of prime mover.