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Utilization of small water bodies, Lesotho.

Socio-economic survey on demand for fresh fish in communities around small water bodies

Year of publication 1990

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages p.70

Author Sen, S.

Product type Project

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) A socio-economic survey was undertaken in two lowland areas amongst communities living around small water bodies as part of the pilot project, Utilization of Small Water Bodies in Lesotho. The survey was carried out by a Consultant Socio-economist, appointed by ALCOM, together with a District Officer from the Bureau of Youth and Women's Affairs. The main aim of the survey was to determine household attitudes towards fresh, frozen and processed fish in order to assess the scale and nature of th e demand for fish in Lesotho and thereby contribute to the identification of the likely path for future sustainable development of small water body exploitation. The survey also aimed to collect information on attitudes towards, and consumption of, ducks because integrated fish-cum-duck farming in rural communities is part of the Short Term Action Programme identified for the Fisheries Section. Two different survey methods were used and their effectiveness tested. Households were interviewed using a formal interview schedule and a Sesotho translation of the schedule was distributed to individuals at village meetings. Selection of households for interviews was based on a quasi-random sampling method, aiming at a 10% sampling fraction based on the estimated number of households in each selected village. 92 households were interviewed in 5 villages covering a total of 624 persons. The Sesotho questionnaire was distributed to 29 households and 22 were returned. This questionnaire was abandoned because the reliability of responses as well as the fact that many questions remained unanswered caused doubt as to the effectiveness of this method. Results from the interviews indicate that only 18% of all households catch fish for household consumption in the reservoirs and rivers mainly using hook and line. All fish catchers are either herdboys or adult males who fish infrequently.

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    As part of the preparatory phase of ALCOM's Pilot Project on the Utilization of Small Water Bodies in Botswana, a socio-economic survey was carried out amongst communities living around seven selected dams in south-eastern Botswana. The main aims of the survey were to determine fish consumption patterns and attitudes as well as the types of fishermen and the level of their current activity. To implement the survey, two interview schedules were used, Survey 1 was designed to gather information of fish consumption patterns and Survey 2 was designed to gather information on fishermen/women. For Survey 1, a quasi-randomly selected sample of 343 households were interviewed on their fish consumption patterns. These interviews were carried out at households living around all seven dams. For Survey 2, as no information existed on the number of people fishing, anyone seen fishing, or was identified as a fishermen either from Survey 1 or through key informants, was interviewed. In total, 37 fishermen/women were interviewed. Results from Survey 1 show that approximately 20 % of the households interviewed have eaten fresh fish, albeit very rarely. The most common reason for not eating fresh fish was that it was not available to buy. The main source of fresh fish came from fishermen in the household catching fish in the dam. Tilapia (bream) is the preferred species, although barbel is also eaten. Households usually fry fish, but many sun-dry fish before cooking either because the taste is preferred or for preservation purposes. Fresh fish is usually not fed to weaning children as it is considered to have too many bones. The results also reveal that just over 80 % of the total sample eat tinned fish, usually tinned pilchards in chili sauce. Other types of fish such as frozen or salted fish are eaten by a negligible number of the households, because they are not easily available except in the larger supermarkets in main villages (frozen only).
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