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Fish farmers in rural communities:: Results of a Survey in Northwestern Province of Zambia

Results of a survey in northwestern province of Zambia

Year of publication 1992

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages p.45

Author Wijkstrom, U.N.,Larsson, R.

Product type Project

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) At the request of the Government of Zambia (GOZ), ALCOM surveyed farmers with fish ponds in the North Western Province during the second quarter of 1988. The objectives of the survey were: to determine the current status and future prospects of tilapia pond culture. to examine the characteristics of subsistence fish farmers, and constraints faced by them. The survey was carried out by staff from the Department of Fisheries and ALCOM, assisted by investigators and interpreters recruited for the survey. About 10% of the Province's known 1372 subsistence fish farmers were interviewed. The survey indicated that subsistence farmers harvested about 50 tons of tilapia during 1988. This was equivalent to about 6.6 kg per individual in the concerned households. The average physical productivity of the earthen gravity-fed ponds was low; about 4 kg per 100m2 per year. It is estimated that just below 20% of the production was taken out though intermittent harvesting (hook and line), the re st in major harvests, one or two per year. Ponds were seldom if ever drained. Some fish were left behind to reproduce. The tilapia farmed by subsistence farmers was expected to register production increases of about 5% per year, if existing ponds were kept in workable condition. This increase would come about through a rise in the total pond surface area, as an increase in physical productivity of ponds was not likely in the immediate future. The average subsistence fish farmer is better edu cated, more influential, and likely to be economically better off than the average head of a farming household in the Province. A comparison between farmers who have been introduced to tilapia culture through a recent aid project (ICARA) and other farmers, shows that prior to the ICARA project the characteristics described above for a fish farmer were even more pronounced.

Language English

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    In 1988, ALCOM carried out a fish farmer survey in Luapula Province of Zambia in cooperation with the Department of Fisheries. Field work was done during June-August 1988. The purposes of the survey were: to describe the current situation of fish farmers and to find out how it can be improved; to identify the farmer who is likely to successfully raise fish in ponds; to describe how the farmers do that; and, to identify the constraints which farmers face. Agriculture in Luapula Provin ce is carried out at a subsistence level. Farmers spread their risks and assure their own sustenance by culturing several crops and by engaging in off-farm activities. A relatively small part of their total incomes is in the form of cash. About half of the adult male population in the province engage in capture fisheries or ancillary activities. In 1985 the production was estimated at about 23 000 tons. The conditions for fish farming are good. Land and water are available, and the population eat fish. About 280 farmers in the province engaged in fish farming in 1988. The survey was intended to cover about 25% of the practising farmers plus intending farmers. This meant a goal of 100 interviews. The survey was preceded by a Department of Fisheries census to identify existing (and past) farmers with fish ponds. The interviews were carried out during two visits in the course of June and August 1988. The survey team consisted of an aquaculturist and a social science graduate. Altogeth er 94 interviews were carried out of which 51 were with practising fish farmers, 20 with former fish farmers and 23 with potential fish farmers. The survey questionnaires were designed by ALCOM and slightly modified after their use in the North-Western Province.
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