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Aquaculture Needs Assessment. Kampala, Uganda

GCP/RAF/466/EC SmartFish Project

Year of publication 2013

Pages 121 p.

Author Owani, S.

Publisher FAO/IOC ;

Product type Book (series)

Series title SmartFish-FAO Report

Series number SF-FAO/2013/28

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Under the implementation of the Regional Strategy for East and Southern Africa (ESA- IO), Region Programme for Africa (IRFS), (GCP/RAF/466EAC) and within the framework of FAO/Smart Fish Project Result 5, Output 5M3.1, the consultant undertook a needs assessment to support and promote sustainable aquaculture development in Uganda. The overall objective being to promote sustainable aquaculture development, by achieving increased fish production through the provision of quality aquaculture inputs, tools and technical information, including training and improving the marketing of fish through the provision of marketing infrastructure and knowledge. This needs assessment followed on from a SmartFish training workshop, ‘Conducting Aquaculture as a Business’ that was held in Mukono District, Uganda, in 2012. The assessment process consisted of the selection of beneficiary associations; semi- structured interviews with leaders and individual members, input and service providers; and a final va lidation of findings with farmers and association leadership. Training and input needs were assessed in two established fish farming associations: Walimi Fish Farmers Cooperative Society (WAFICOS) in the central region and the West Acholi Integrated Fish Farmers Cooperative Society (WAIFFICOS) in the northern region. The findings were used to develop a follow-on input and training plan and budget. The needs for farmers were found to be extensive and highly diverse in terms of both inputs and tra ining but were largely similar for both groups. Priority inputs include: fish transportation, harvesting gear, improved handling equipment and water quality monitoring and testing kits. Farmers emphasized the need for hands-on and practical, farm-based training in general aquaculture and business management. At the association level, training in group dynamics, leadership, management of shared resources, and better handling and marketing are priorities. In terms of the input provision plan, depe nding on resource availability, equipment and services would either be managed centrally by the association and hired out to members or given directly to the most promising and needy farmers. Particular emphasis should be on supporting the most vulnerable but active members of the associations such as widows, orphans, women and youth. These members were found to be faced with the highest rate of unemployment and tend to be wholly dependent on farming. There is scope to train women to make harves ting nets and for youth groups in pond construction. Lesser priorities include support for Information and Communication Tools (ICT) to improve networking amongst association members, information exchange and better marketing, as well facilitating an E-learning process. Although the market for farmed fish exists, the distribution and transportation chains are thought to be weak. A market analysis survey must be carried out as a pre-cursor to clarifying market system support.

Language English

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