Factors Affecting Farmers’ Knowledge on Using Antibiotics and Gas Reducers in Pangas (Pangasius pangasius) Fish Health Management

Abstract

Abstract Most fish farmers of the global south had limited knowledge on how or why to use aqua drugs. The study was undertaken mainly to explore the extent of knowledge of pangas (Pangasius pangasius) fish farmers on using antibiotics and gas reducers in Pangasius fish health management. Moreover, the study will explore the factors, which affect farmers knowledge on using antibiotics and gas reducers in Pangasius fish health management. For the first time, we divide the knowledge in to four dimensions, including factual, conceptual, procedural, and metacognitive dimensions to understand farmers’ knowledge on different aspects of using aqua drugs and merged with Innovation-decision model. The study was conducted at Bailar union under Trishal Upazila (sub-district) of Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. All pangas fish farmers’ (87) in the study area were considered as a population while 72 farmers were selected as sample by random sampling technique. A structured interview schedule was used for data collection using face to face survey method in winter 2022 following a quantitative correlational approach. Findings showed that survey participants had better knowledge of conceptual dimensions that is followed by metacognitive, procedural, and factual knowledge and age, education, annual income, experience, extension media contact, mixed antibiotics in feed before feeding, and pond management were identified as influential determinants of the farmers’ knowledge. The findings of this study will be implemented by different government and non-government extension organizations to enhance the knowledge of the farmers on using antibiotics and gas reducers to manage pangas fish health. Thus, in the long run, the findings of this study will help the practitioners and policy planners to create situations, which will help to produce better quality pangas fish that is safe for humans and the environment.