An Assessment of Aquaculture Performance in Chinsali and Shiwang’ andu Districts of Muchinga Province, Zambia.

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the performance of aquaculture in Chinsali and Shiwangandu districts of Muchinga Province. A total of 162 respondents were randomly selected and interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire in both locations. In addition to primary data, conclusions were drawn from supplementary sources such as journals and reports. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The survey results revealed that 10% of the respondents were between 20 and 30 years old, 43% were between 31 and 40 years old, and 33% were between 41 and 50 years old. Small-scale farmers constituted the vast majority (96%) of respondents, while medium-scale farmers accounted for only 4%. The majority of respondents either hired labourers or constructed earthen ponds with their families. Despite the recommended stocking density of 3 fish/m2, many farmers relied on vendor recommendations to find high-quality seeds and set their prices between ZMK0.5 and ZMK1, respectively. More than 50% of participants believed that selling fish provided an opportunity to make money. However, due to a lack of education, farmers did not keep records of the fish they raised, making it difficult to predict the exact fish yield after sale in ponds at prices ranging from 20 to 40 ZMK per kg. Most of the respondents used only one ingredient or additive in their feed and occasionally applied manure fertilizer to their ponds. Complete feed was very expensive, and farmers’ inability to access lines of credit for financing and expansion was another problem. Despite these challenges, there is great potential for a thriving and highly productive aquaculture sub-sector to benefit an increasing number of government officials, as the fish market is known for providing high-quality protein and services to an increasing number of stakeholders.