Small-scale Fish Farmers Research Articles

Impacts of a Fish Kill at Lake Kutubu, Papua New Guinea

Lake Kutubu is a tropical freshwater lake that is internationally renowned for its biodiversity, 12 endemic species of fish, wetlands, and swamp forests. This study reports on a fish kill and the introduction of exotic species, and it assesses impacts on fish stocks and the artisanal fishery. The fish kill, which began in January 2013 and lasted for 6 months, was characterized by fish pathologies consistent with epizootic ulcerative syndrome. Sleeper gobies and gudgeons (i.e., Mogurnda variegata Nichols, Mogurnda furva Allen & Hoese, Mogurnda kutubuensis Allen & Hoese, and Oxyeleotris fimbriata [Weber]) had more obvious signs of disease than did Hephaestus adamsoni (Trewavas), Melanotaenia lacustris Munro, and Craterocephalus lacustris Trewavas. The event coincided with an inflow of a plume of white particulates from the northeast, where hydrocarbon companies carried out extensive horizontal drilling in 2012–2013. Six months after the event, the main species caught by fishers were Cherax papuanus Holthuis (16%), H. adamsoni (55%) and M. lacustris (28%), which is different from the mix of species found in previous surveys of 1995 and 1997. The recent fish kill, as well as socioeconomic changes, substantially reduced the fish catch and fishing effort. Small-scale fish farmers began raising the genetically improved farmed tilapia strain of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus) in earthen ponds in 2009 and introduced water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes [Mart.] Solms) as a food for these fish. Heavy rains in 2010–2012 released farmed fish into the lake, and in May 2015, fishers report that the fish catch is dominated by tilapia. Improved strategies are required to educate stakeholders, assess fish stocks, and protect biodiversity by reducing anthropogenic impacts.

Value Chain Dynamics and the Small-Scale Sector: A Summary of Findings and Policy Recommendations for Fisheries and Aquaculture Trade

This article centers on an FAO project that focused on price transmission in fishery and aquaculture value chains, and the research conducted via case studies in 14 developed and developing countries. A brief overview of the project with the methodology of analysis and findings for each country is summarized in this work. In addition, general policy recommendations that emerged as key themes across all value chains are discussed. Across all case studies, it was found that relative to other players in the value chain, small-scale fishers and fish farmers are receiving the smallest economic benefits for their products. Processors and retail markets were found to be receiving more of the distributional benefits of the value chain owing to their stronger bargaining power. With this finding, policy recommendations aim to safeguard the interests of small-scale fishers and fish farmers by improving their prices and margins while allowing the resource to achieve long-term sustainability from an economic, social and biological perspective.

Adoption of Improved Aquaculture Management Practices by Cluster Fish Farmers in Delta State, Nigeria

The adoption of proven fish production management practices portends many economics and social implications. Interview schedule was employed to generate primary data from 146 respondents in the four cluster fish farms (estates) in two local government areas and analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Information on socio economic characteristics revealed that most of the respondents were in the active age bracket of 30-40 years, well educated and small scale fish farmers with fewer years of experience members at fish farmers association and married. Fellow farmers (57.5%) were major source of information on fish farming since the farmers were brought together under the umbrella body of fish farmers’ association. The study further revealed a low adoption level for all the management practices on adoption index of 0.43 which means that the farmers had only 43% adoption of the practices. Age, education and fish farming experience of fish farmers correlate with the adoption of some improved aquaculture management practices. In view of prevailing evidence regular training and workshops to update the knowledge and information on modern aquaculture practices should be organized for fish farmers.

Insects used for animal feed in West Africa

In West Africa, as in many parts of the world, livestock and fish farming suffer from the increasing cost of feed, especially protein ingredients, which are hardly available for village poultry farming and small-scale fish farming. Insects, which are a natural food source of poultry and fish and are rich in protein and other valuable nutrients, can be used to improve animal diets, a practice which is now strongly promoted by the FAO as a tool for poverty alleviation. This paper reviews practices and research on the use of insects as animal feed in West Africa and the perspectives to further develop the techniques, in particular for smallholder farmers and fish farmers. The most promising insects are flies, especially the house fly (Musca domestica) (Diptera Muscidae) and the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) (Diptera Stratiomyiidae), which can be mass reared on-farm for domestic use, in small production units at the community or industrial level. Flies have the advantage over most other insects of developing on freely available waste material and could even contribute to rural sanitation. Termites are traditionally used by smallholder farmers to feed village poultry. While their mass production is problematic, methods to enhance populations on-farm and facilitate collection can be developed. In any case, new methods will need to demonstrate their economic profitability, social acceptability and environmental sustainability

Effects of farm and commercial inputs on carp polyculture performance: participatory trial in an experimental field station

The carp polyculture production system is the most widely used system by small-scale fish farmers in southern Brazil (States of Parana, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul). The aim of this study was to compare biotechnical and economic parameters between a farm system (FS) using farm inputs (chicken manure, maize and grass) and a commercial system (CS) using commercial inputs (triple super phosphate, ammonium nitrate and balanced food) feeding to apparent satiation. The experiment was carried out for 196 days in earthen ponds of 500 m 2 , with three replicates per system. The stocking density was 2,000 fish ha -1 , consisting of 35% grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), 30% of mirror common carp (Cyprinus carpio var. specularis), 20% of bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) and 15% silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). In both systems, a low level of total phosphorus in water (0.06 mg L -1 ) and in the sediment (4 mg L -1 ) was observed. Production was significantly increased in the CS (76 kg 500 m -2 196 days -1 ) than in the FS (43 kg 500 m -2 196 days -1 ). Costs and revenues were higher in the CS and profits were similar in the two systems. Similar profits

English

The study used the stochastic production frontier model to analyze the resource use efficiency among small scale fish farms in Cross River State, Nigeria. The mean efficiency of 0.89 was obtained indicating room for farm efficiency improvement by 11%. Quantity of feed, farm size (pond size), labour and capital had significant influence on fish production in the study area, with positive coefficients of feed quantity and farm size while that of labour and capital were negative. The return to scale (RTS) was 1.055 indicating increasing returns to scale, which implied that farmers may need to increase the use of productive resources. High cost of feed, unavailable credit, lack of capital and unfavorable price of fish were among the major constraints to fish production in the area. There existed some inefficiency among the sampled farmers. The major contributing factors to efficiency were gender, family size, farming experience and education. This calls for gender mainstreaming when policies that would cause improvement in efficiency are made for implementation.   Key words: Resource use, efficiency, production frontier, fish farming, Cross Rivers, Nigeria.

Fish Cultivation as a Livelihood Option for Small Scale Farmers - Study in Southwestern Region of Bangladesh

Present study explores the importance of fish farming in the livelihood of small scale fish farmers of Batiaghata upazila in the Southwestern region of Bangladesh. This is an exploratory type study, which selects three villages of Batiaghata upazila. It collects primary data from 30 fish cultivators through questionnaire survey and key informant interview method. The study findings show that fish cultivation is the main occupation for 56.67 percent of the farmers. It has an important implication for ensuring emergency cash flow in terms of urgent medical expenses, financing children’s education and supporting household economy in times of maintaining social and family occasions. It also alters households’ protein consumption level and income, expenditure and savings pattern of the households. Recognizing the importance of small scale fish farming in the region, present study suggest government and non government organizations ensuring efficient marketing, expanding training program and ensuring supply of quality fish fry and fingerlings.

Profitability of small scale fish farming in Minna Agricultural Zone of Niger state in Nigeria

The results revealed that there was a high literacy level among sample farmers (95.4 percent) which is enough to support information on technology use. On an average total cost of 403139 was incurred while total revenue of 631316 was realized with a gross margin of 356906 and net income of 228177 per hectare per annum. The rate of return on investment of 0.56 implies that for every one naira invested, a return of 1.56 and a profit of 0.56 were obtained with production efficiency index of 1.56 reaffirming the ingenuity of the considerable level of profitability achieved in the enterprise. This showed that fish production in the study area was economically rewarding and profitable. It is capable of creating employment, augmenting income and improving the standards of living of the people. The government participation in fish farming is solicited to boost the quantity of fish available for consumption.

EFFICIENCY OF RESOURCE USE AMONG POND FISH FARMERS IN CENTRAL UGANDA: A STOCHASTIC FRONTIER PRODUCTION FUNCTION APPROACH

This article presents the use of a stochastic frontier production function to examine the efficiency of resource utilization in pond fish farming in Uganda. The study draws on data from a field survey administered to 200 small-scale fish farmers in three major fish farming districts in Central Uganda: Mukono, Mpigi and Wakiso. The districts were part of a large aquaculture development project funded by the United States Agency for International Development-Aquaculture and Fisheries Collaborative Research Support Program. Productive efficiency was analyzed using stochastic frontier analysis with a translog production function while assuming a truncated-normal distribution for the inefficiency term. The output variable was total quantity of fish produced, while input variables were quantity or value of inputs used in the production process, namely labor, pond size, stocking density, capital and feeds. The estimated index of resource-use efficiency revealed that small-scale farmers were inefficient in resource allocation by over-utilizing labor with an estimated allocative efficiency index of −0.94 and grossly under-utilized pond size, feeds and fingerlings with allocative efficient indices of 1.15, 1.64, 3.71, respectively. The results suggest that there is considerable scope to expand output and also productivity by increasing production efficiency at the relatively inefficient farms and sustaining the efficiency of those operating at or closer to the frontier.

Extent of Use of ICTs by Fish Farmers in Isoko Agricultural Zone of Delta State, Nigeria

The study examined the extent of use of ICTs by fish farmers in Isoko agricultural zone of Delta State. Data obtained from 60 respondents purposively selected for the study, were summarized using percentage, mean score and correlation coefficient. The respondents were within the mean age of 45 years and males (60%) were more involved in fish farming than their female counterparts; they were mainly small scale fish farmers. The respondents were well aware of and used the telephone (GSM), television and radio for their contacts and enquiries, report preparation and information search. However, use of ICT facilities was constrained by the problem of maintenance, low level of production and rural poverty. Training to increase technical efficiency of farmers on ICT use and maintenance, and establishing appropriate policies to reduce rural poverty remain instrumental towards ICTs use by fish farmers.

Profitability analysis of small scale aquaculture enterprises in Central Uganda

The study had three overriding objectives. Firstly, to assess the profitability of small-scale aquaculture production enterprises in central Uganda; secondly, to ascertain the factors affecting profitability; and thirdly, to identify the constraints to fish farming in the region.The data were collected through a survey questionnaire administered to a random sample of 200 small scale fish farmers in the three major fish farming districts of Mpigi, Mukono and Wakiso in central Uganda. The analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics, enterprise budgeting and ordinary linear regression. Although the results show small-scale aquaculture enterprises to be profitable in the study region, the estimated profit margins are relatively small. Farming experience, fish price, record keeping, feed cost and volume of fish harvested were the most influential factors in explaining profitability. The key factors identified as hindrances to aquaculture development in the region included predators, unavailability of credit facilities, expensive feeds, shortage and poor quality of fingerlings. Key words: Aquaculture, enterprise budgets, profitability, Uganda, small farmers.

Farm-Level Risk Factors for Fish-Borne Zoonotic Trematode Infection in Integrated Small-Scale Fish Farms in Northern Vietnam

BackgroundNorthern Vietnam is an endemic region for fish-borne zoonotic trematodes (FZT), including liver and intestinal flukes. Humans acquire the FZT infection by eating raw or inadequately cooked fish. The production of FZT-free fish in aquaculture is a key component in establishing a sustainable program to prevent and control the FZT transmission to humans. Interventions in aquaculture should be based on knowledge of the main risk factors associated with FZT transmission.Methodology/Principal FindingsA longitudinal study was carried out from June 2006 to May 2007 in Nam Dinh province, Red River Delta to investigate the development and risk factors of FZT infections in freshwater cultured fish. A total of 3820 fish were sampled six times at two-month intervals from 96 fish farms. Logistic analysis with repeated measurements was used to evaluate potential risk factors based on information collected through questionnaire interviews with 61 fish farm owners. The results showed that the FZT infections significantly increased from first sampling in June to July 2006 (65%) to sixth sampling in April to May, 2007 (76%). The liver fluke, Clonorchis sinensis and different zoonotic intestinal flukes including Haplochis pumilio, H. taichui, H. yokogawai, Centrocestus formosanus and Procerovum varium were found in sampled fish. Duration of fish cultured (sampling times), mebendazole drug self-medication of household members, presence of snails in the pond, and feeding fish with green vegetation collected outside fish farms all had a significant effect on the development of FZT prevalence in the fish.Conclusions/SignificanceThe FZT prevalence in fish increased by 11 percentage points during a one-year culture period and the risk factors for the development of infection were identified. Results also highlight that the young fish are already highly infected when stocked into the grow-out systems. This knowledge should be incorporated into control programs of FZT transmission in integrated small-scale aquaculture nursery and grow-out systems in Vietnam.

Investigations on the digestibility and metabolizability of the major nutrients and energy of maize leaves and barnyard grass in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

In the uplands of northern Vietnam, culture of grass carp contributes significantly to income and household food security of Black Thai farmers. Maize is one of the most important upland crops and barnyard grass is the most important weed in the paddy rice fields. Thus, these are frequently used by small-scale fish farmers as fish feed. An 8-week feeding trial was conducted simultaneously in a recirculation and in a respirometric system to determine the digestibility and metabolizability of the nutrients of maize leaves and barnyard grass, to assess their crude protein, lipid and energy conversion and to estimate the energy allocation in grass carp. The following diets were used: diet ‘A’ (reference diet) containing 39% crude protein with 19.8 MJ kg−1 gross energy; diets ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’, which contained the same amount of the reference diet as the control diet, supplemented with a known amount of dried barnyard grass, dried maize leaves or fresh maize leaves, respectively. Five fish were assigned to each treatment in each experimental unit. Reference and test diets were fed to fish and faecal samples were collected and the oxygen consumption was measured in order to set up an energy budget of the fish over the whole experimental period. The weekly development of the body weight was recorded. The body weight gain of the fish fed diet D was significantly higher than that of the group fed diet A, which also in turn was significantly higher than that of fish fed diet B or C. The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of nutrients and gross energy for the different experimental diets in fish kept in the aquaria were, for diets A, B, C and D respectively, 94.1%, 60.9%, 70.5% and 84.7% for protein, 91.3%, 60.7%, 76.8% and 71.8% for lipid; 95.9%, 44.5%, 60.6% and 69.1% for gross energy. The partial ADC of plant leaf ingredients were determined and barnyard grass and dried maize leaves were found to be not only poorly digestible but having negative impact on the digestibility of the reference diet, while fresh maize leaves were well digested. The results of the present study indicated that fresh maize leaves have a good potential to be used as supplement in diets for grass carp.

Aquaculture information sources for small-scale fish farmers: the case of Ghana

The Ghana ministry of fisheries and the ministry of Agriculture provide free extension services and other technical services to fish farmers in Ghana, e.g. producing fingerlings at government-operated fish hatcheries for sale to farmers. Non-governmental organizations and universities have also provided some technical assistance to fish farmers in efforts towards the development of aquaculture in Ghana. The study identified the various sources of aquaculture information to Ghanaian fish farmers and examined the factors that affected their decision to utilize these alternative sources of information. Using choice modelling techniques, the study found that the probability of farmers seeking information on aquaculture from the Ghana government increases with literacy by about 43% more than with illiteracy and by about 34% with an increase in total size of ponds. The probability that a literate farmer will choose to obtain aquaculture information from a non-governmental organization decreased by about 10% compared with an illiterate farmer. The probability of choosing ‘other sources’ for aquaculture information increased by about 27% for farmers residing in Ashanti region compared with farmers in the Brong-Ahafo region but the probability of farmers seeking information from ‘other sources’ decreased with literacy and number of years farming.

Analysis of the use of credit facilities by small-scale fish farmers in Kenya

The government of Kenya encourages aquaculture development by offering credit facilities through the government agricultural finance institution, Agriculture Finance Corporation. Nevertheless, the level of credit use in fish farming is very low. Access to credit is among several factors that affect farmers’ decision of whether to use particular technology or services. The study examined factors that affected the decision of fish farmers in Kenya to utilize credit facilities in fish production using a probit model. The analysis suggests that farmers in the Western province will have a 19% more probability of using credit facilities for their fish farming operations than farmers from the other provinces such as the Rift Valley, Central, and the Eastern province. The effect of tilapia sales on the probability of credit use by fish farmers is more than three times that of catfish sales. Total pond acreage owned by fish farmers had a positive effect on credit use but the effect was very small and negligible. The level of fish farmers’ use of credit facilities is very low, and there is probably the need to educate farmers on credit use and for the government agricultural lending agency and other commercial agricultural lenders to invest in this enterprise. Kenyan lending institutions have financed traditional agricultural enterprises, and with the growing production of farmed fish, more research is needed to document the aquaculture business model to assist in assessing the profitability potential in aquaculture.

Abandoning small-scale fish farming in western Kenya leads to higher malaria vector abundance

Fishponds become abandoned due to lack of access to both young fish and technical support and faster economic returns from other activities. Certain conditions found in abandoned fishponds, such as absence of fish and presence of aquatic vegetation, are conducive to the presence of malaria vectors. We conducted a district-wide fishpond census to determine the maintenance status and mosquito populations of fishponds in Kisii Central District in western Kenya. Two hundred and sixty one fishponds were found, 186 active (fish present) and 75 abandoned (fish absent). Vegetation was not significantly associated with the distribution of Anopheles gambiae s.l., Anopheles funestus or culicines (Diptera: Culicidae) in active or abandoned ponds. The presence of fish, however, correlated significantly with the distribution of all mosquito species, with significantly higher mosquito densities in abandoned fishponds. An. gambiae s.l. was the most abundant mosquito species found in both active and abandoned ponds, being proportionally more abundant in the abandoned ponds. The proportion of An. funestus increased with altitude. Following the census the demand for fish to re-stock abandoned ponds rose by 67% when compared to the same time period in the previous year. This study highlights the potential public health problems associated with the abandonment of small-scale fish farming in the highlands of western Kenya.

High stocking densities reduce Oreochromis niloticus yield: model building to aid the optimisation of production

Small-scale fish farming in tropical Africa is mainly based on pond culture of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus with supplementary organic fertilisation. Until recently, the ‘high’ stocking densities practised (2 fish·m –2) led to stunted populations and very low yields. Since 1996, rural fish farming developed significantly in Côte d’Ivoire. Only a dramatic decrease in stocking densities allowed fish farmers to produce marketable-sized tilapia with reasonable yield in extensive culture. Density control is achieved through tilapia monosex male culture and stocking the predator Hemichromis fasciatus. Further development of low-input tilapia farming requires improvement of production results. A growth model based on maximal growth and ingestion, maintenance needs and efficiency of food for growth was developed to explain and help optimise production results. The model was validated with farm and experimental data and demonstrated that, for a given rearing period (from 30–50 g fingerling, to market-size), yield increased with density, but then decreased beyond an optimal density. When market-weight target is set, the same variation of yield according to stocking density is observed. Densities of 2 to 3 fish·m –2 markedly reduce tilapia yield in extensive culture. Moreover, increasing market weight from 150 to 450 g·fish –1 will only induce a limited decrease in maximal yield (around 20 %) if the density is lowered and the rearing period lengthened. This decrease is more than compensated by the higher price of large tilapia. Using rearing cycle data, the model can predict the results of alternate combinations of stocking density and duration of rearing period under the same pond management. Thus, production results can be optimised given the objectives and constraints of each fish farmer. This model is a valuable tool to develop extensive tilapia farming in tropical areas, and raises questions for researchers.

Small Scale Fish Farming in Uganda

Small Scale Fish Farming in Uganda

Optimal Resource Allocation by Fish Farmers in Rwanda

ABSTRACT Although many small-scale fish farming projects around the world promote fish production as a source of low-cost protein, increasing evidence demonstrates fish to be an important cash crop, even for limited-resource farmers. A mathematical programming model was developed from survey data of Rwandan farmers to determine optimal resource allocation on subsistence farms in Rwanda. The specific objective of the study was to determine farm plans that maximize returns to a representative Rwandan farm family's resources, subject to constraints of the farm family's proteinic and caloric requirements. Soybeans, sweet potatoes, and maize were selected to meet household nutritional requirements. Fish production was selected as the principal cash crop, in most cases lending support to the evidence that fish is more important as a cash crop than as a primary protein source in Rwanda.

Digging Fish Ponds: Perspectives on Motivation in Luapula Province, Zambia

The promotion of small-scale fish farming in Africa has had only limited success. Although on many occasions there is apparently no difficulty in getting people to dig ponds, subsequent management and maintenance tend to be poor and ponds are often abandoned. Because of the legacy of past interventions, many farmers dig fish ponds in anticipation of benefit or to associate themselves with a culture of development rather than because of any known merit in the technology itself. The article argues that part of the problem lies in the approach to farmer motivation taken by projects. Three assumptions are unfounded: that all members of fish farming households are equal; that the decision making process of farmers is an informed weighing of costs, benefits and risk; and that the production of fish is the most important outcome. The article is based on research conducted in Luapula Province, Zambia in association with an FAO-supported project with fish farmers in the province.