ALCOM Field Document No. 28

	Adoption and Viability Criteria for Semi-Intensive Fish Farming: A report on a socio-economic study in Ruvuma and Mbeya regions, Tanzania
	TABLE OF CONTENTS

By Henrik Nilsson
Socio-Economist
(Associate Professional Officer)
ALCOM

and Kitojo Wetengere
Economist
(Consultant)
ALCOM

Funding Agencies:

SWEDISH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
BELGIAN ADMINISTRATION FOR DEVELOPMENT CO-OPERATION

Executing Agency:

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Harare, Zimbabwe, December 1994

PREFACE

This document reports on a socio-economic study carried out during 1991 in selected villages from the Ruvuma and Mbeya Regions of Tanzania. The study was meant to identify criteria for the adoption and viability of semi-intensive fish farming among rural populations. These criteria will in turn help identify areas suitable for carrying out trials of semi-intensive fish farming in the Ruvuma and Mbeya Regions and for designing extension packages.

Two to three weeks were spent in the selected villages to interview key informants, conduct PRAs (Participatory Rural Appraisals) and semi-structured interviews with semi-intensive fish farmers.

The socio-economic study was carried out in 1991 jointly by the Fisheries Division of Tanzania; the Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro; and ALCOM.

This document discusses the fish farming background in the selected villages, the methodology of the study, the findings and the conclusions.

ALCOM is a regional aquaculture and fisheries programme of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). Based in Harare, Zimbabwe, it covers all the member-countries of SADC (Southern African Development Community) -- Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The aim of ALCOM is to assist member-countries improve the living standards of rural populations through the practice of aquaculture. Toward this end, pilot activities are conducted in member-countries to demonstrate new techniques, technologies or methodologies. Successes achieved, ideas derived, lessons learnt, are applied on a wider scale by member--governments.

ALCOM is funded by Sweden and Belgium. Its preparatory phase began in 1986, and its first implementation phase in 1990.

ALCOM Address:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY

1   INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background
1.2   Aim of the report
1.3   Definition of semi-intensive fish farming

2   METHODOLOGY

3   FINDINGS

3.1   General background of fish farming in Subira and Ihanda Villages
3.2   Access to land
3.3   Characteristics of the fish farmers studied
3.4   Income earning activities
3.5   Integration of farm activities
3.6   Access to and use of inputs for semi-intensive fish farming
3.7   Activities competing with fish farming
3.8   Institutions and persons important for fish farming
3.9   Attributes of fish farming

3.9.1   Social and cultural values
3.9.2   Felt needs for adoption of fish farming
3.9.3   Complexity
3.9.4   Relative advantage of fish farming compared to other farm activities

3.10   Profitability

4   DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

REFERENCES

TABLES:

1.      Climatic, agricultural and demographic information for Ruvuma and Mbeya Regions
2A.    Characteristics of case study respondents in Subira Village
2B.    Characteristics of case study respondents in Ihanda Village
3.      Management practices in Ruvuma and Mbeya Regions
4A.    Status ranking of farm activities as perceived by respondents in Subira Village
4B.    Status ranking of farm activities as perceived by respondents in Ihanda Village
5A.    Ranking of profitability of farm activities among respondents in Subira Village
5B.    Ranking of profitability of farm activities among respondents in Ihanda Village
6A.    Ranking of marketability of crops among respondents in Subira Village
6B.    Ranking of marketability of crops among respondnets in Ihanda Village
7A.    Ranking of preference of relish among respondents in Subira Village
7B.    Ranking of preference of relish among respondents in Ihanda Village
8A.    Ranking of initial costs for farm activities among respondents in Subira Village
8B.    Ranking of initial costs for farm activities among respondents in Ihanda Village
9A.    Ranking of immediacy of reward of farm activities among respondents in Subira Village
9B.    Ranking of risks encountered in farm activities among respondents in Subira Village
10A.   Ranking of risks encountered in farm activities among respondents in Subira Village
10B.   Ranking of risks encountered in farm activities among respondents in Ihanda Village
11A.   Estimated annual net financial returns from semi-intensive fish farming, Subira Village
11B.   Estimated annual net financial returns from semi-intensive fish farming, Ihanda Village

MAPS & DIAGRAMS

Map 1.   Tanzania and the selected regions and villages
Map 2.   Map of Subira Village
Map 3.   Map of Ihanda Village
Venn Diagram 1:   Institutions and persons important for fish farmers in Subira Village
Venn Diagram 2:   Institutions and persons important for fish farmers in Ihanda Village

APPENDICES

1   A:   Seasonal diagram on agricultural activities, rainfall, income and expenditures, Subira Village
B:   Seasonal diagram on agricultural activities, rainfall, income and expenditures, Ihanda Village

2   A:   Ranking of definitions for a successful fish farmer, Subira Village
B:   Ranking of definitions for a successful fish farmer, Ihanda Village

3   A:   Ranking of criteria leading to successful fish farming, Subira Village
B:   Ranking of criteria leading to successful fish farming, Ihanda Village

4   Checklist for interviews with key informants

5   Checklist for interviews with semi-intensive fish farmers

SUMMARY

The sub-project “Development of semi-intensive aquaculture” was started in Tanzania in 1993 by the Fisheries Division at the Ministry of Tourism, Natural Resources and Environment, Tanzania; Sokoine University of Agriculture; and ALCOM. As its first activity, a study was carried out in Ruvuma and Mbeya Regions to identify adoption and viability criteria for semi-intensive fish farming on which the present report is based. The purpose of the study was to assist the sub-project in identifying areas suitable for carrying out on-farm trials in Morogoro Region and design extension packages.

Two to three weeks were spent in a village in each of the two regions. The methods undertaken included interviews with key informants, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and semi-structured interviews with semi-intensive fish farmers.

In each of the two villages, only a minor number of fish farmers manage their ponds semi-intensively, i.e. feed the fish at least two times per week and fertilize the pond at least once per week. Feeds include maize bran, vegetable leaves, kitchen waste and local brew leftovers, while fertilizer is animal manure (cow and goat dung and chicken droppings).

Estimated yields among these farmers range between 0.7 and 5 t/ha/year.

Fish farming competes with other farm activities for land (vegetable gardening), labour, capital and on-farm by-products. Integration among the various farm activities, including fish farming, is a common practice. Knowledge about fish farming and the priority given to it affects the allocation of these factors and hence the level of management.

Knowledge about fish farming is most often obtained from other fish farmers. However, visits by US Peace Corps Volunteers, Fisheries Officers and researchers have often encouraged farmers to start fish farming and to improve the management of their ponds.

Social and cultural values favour fish farming. No taboos were identified. People are jealous of successful fish farmers -- instances of theft and witchcraft are evidence of this phenomenon -- but respondents see it as only a minor problem. Only the better fish farmers among the respondents perceive fish farming as a high-status activity. Nevertheless, the PRA revealed that a successful fish farmer does not invest the income derived from this activity in further intensification but into other farming activities whose benefits are known. As there is in general a positive attitude towards impproved technologies which promise a higher yield, development of semi-intensive fish farming will depend on whether proper knowledge on the potential benefits as well as the inputs required are provided.

Respondents perceive fish farming to be advantageous as compared with other farm activities in terms of marketability, source of relish and risks involved.

On the basis of this study, the following criteria for adoption and viability of semi-intensive fish farming are found: regular access to extension services; access to feeds and fertilizer; demand for fresh fish; also important is the priority given to the activity by the farmer, which again depends on the knowledge provided to him/her and the actual profitability of fish farming compared to other farm enterprises. If semi-intensive fish farming expands more, its viability will further depend on whether fish farmers have access to fingerlings of sufficient quality.