Corrosivity in A West Java Reservoir Correlated with Fish Farms and Watershed Runoff

Fish cage culture has rapidly grown throughout Lake Victoria's shores, with Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) being the primarily cultured species. However, there is inadequate information on its economic viability. The study investigated the economic feasibility of fish cage farming system in Lake Victoria, Kenya, by evaluating the relationship between cost of inputs and revenue from fish sales and analysing the overall profitability of the fish cage culture in the lake. Systematic sampling was employed to select 200 cage farmers for the study. Structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression analysis, gross margin analysis, net farm income and profitability ratios. The average quantity of fish produced in the production cycle was 11,971.53 kg from which an average of 9020.77 kg was sold at an average selling price of Kenyan Shillings (KSH) 281.36 (USD 2.60) per kg. The multiple regression results revealed that the cost of feeds (coefficient of −0.603) and fish seed (coefficient of −0.387) had a significant influence on returns from fish cage culture business at p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively. The costs of feeds and fish seed were significant components of the total production cost, accounting for 60.25% and 33.50%, respectively. Fish cage production was profitable, with an average gross margin of KSH 1146,727.68 (USD 10,545.59) and net farm income of KSH 1020,518.78 (USD 9384.94) in a production cycle, with a benefit cost ratio of 1.43, an expense structure ratio of 0.06, a gross revenue ratio of 0.70 and a return on investment of 0.43. The study recommends formulation of friendly policies, legislations, operating guidelines and an enabling environment for feed and fish seed producers by policy makers to enhance fish feed and seed production and subsequently reduce prices of feed and seed. Through this, economic viability of fish cage culture will be enhanced. 

Economic feasibility of fish cage culture in Lake Victoria, Kenya

Worldwide apples account for fifty (50) percent of the world’s deciduous fruit tree production. Despite the benefits that come with apple production, adoption has been slow especially among smallholder farmers in Southwestern Highlands. This present study was therefore conducted to identify apple management practices (AMPs) and also examine the factors influencing farmer decision to adopt AMPs. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 52 apple growing households in the districts of Kabale, Kisoro, Kanungu and Rukungiri that form Southwestern Highlands. Probit regression model was employed and the estimation procedure followed Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) approach. Results from the descriptive statistics indicated that the most applied management practices included weeding, bending and staking, pesticide application and defoliation among others.  Probit regression results showed that sex of the farmer, average number of fruits per tree, household labor force, farm size and access to credit had a positive and statistically significant effect on farmers’ decision to adopt AMPs (p<0.05) while age of the farmer, orchard location, obstruction by birds and off-farm income source had a negative and statistically significant influence on farmers’ decision to adopt AMPs (p<0.05). In view of the above, there is need to identify and address gender differences in terms of engagement in apple production targeting more women. Research needs to come up with an effective but affordable remedy against pests especially birds, strategies of attracting and maintaining youth into apple farming need to be explored and implemented since apple farming is labor intensive and is dominated by aging farmers, research and extension need to explore appropriate and cost effective avenues for farmers to access credit, accurate and quality agricultural information. Keywords: Adoption, Apples, Probit model, Orchard, Southwestern Highlands DOI : 10.7176/JESD/10-2-14

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Factors Influencing Farmers’ Decision to Adopt Apple Management Practices in Southwestern Highlands, Uganda

The study was conducted to identify the constraints and potential opportunities of cage fish farming in South Western Highland Agro-Ecological Zone (SWHAEZ). 82 questionnaires were administered to six respondent groups (current cage fish farmers, potential adopters of cage aquaculture, farmers who have abandoned cage aquaculture, regional and district fisheries officers, and financial institutions) to obtain insight into the challenges in cage fish farming as well as opportunities that can be exploited to promote cage fish farming. People in relevant government institutions were also interviewed. Primary results show that lack of funds and lack of government extension services are key challenges in cage fish farming. Lack of funds incapacitates farmers’ failure to get aquaculture inputs like feed. It also accounted for the inability of potential adopters and farmers who have abandoned cage aquaculture to start or continue cage aquaculture respectively. Major opportunities identified include; availability of the market for the fish, willingness of the financial institutions to offer loans at a cheaper interest rate, availability of the extension services at the sub-county level. Our preliminary recommendations is that the government can also provide subsidies to most expensive inputs like feeds, seine-net, water testing kits and construction costs for aquaculture. There is need to empower and build capacity for the extension workers through improved good management practices like feed and feeding and record keeping.

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Prospects of Cage Fish Farming in South Western Uganda

The study evaluated the socio-economic viability and factors influencing profitability of apple enterprise under smallholder farming system in Uganda. A sample of 52 apple farming households was randomly selected in the districts of Uganda: Kabale, Kisoro, Kanungu and Rukungiri. Data were collected with the use of structured questionnaires, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis and multiple regression model. The results showed that apples were planted on small scale with only 6% of land allocated to total apple enterprise in 2011. However, land allocation to apple enterprise is increasing and the enterprise currently covers 20% of farm lands. The dominant varieties among apple farmers are Golden Dorset, 56.1% and Anna, 40.9%. Men constituted 74.5% of the apple farmers, while the mean age of apple farmers was 57 years, with an average experience of over 10 years. Gross margin of apple enterprise in Kabale and Kanungu district had a positive ratio of return on investment of 1.5 and 1.7, respectively. Kisoro and Rukungiri districts had a negative ratio of return on investment of (0.9 and 0.3, respectively). Ordinary least squares (OLS) results indicated that the gender of the respondent, family size, access to credit, influence of birds, type of apple variety, number of apple trees planted, amount of labor used and quantity of inorganic fertilizers applied were significant determinants of net income in apple production. There is need to reduce the labor costs in apple establishment and management, promote strategies that encourage the youth to participate in apple farming. Research has to come up with an effective but affordable remedy against the negative influence of birds in apple production. Farmers need to be linked to financial providers for credit access at low interest rate in order to facilitate routine apple management practices.

	 

	Key words: Apple enterprise, smallholder farmers, gross margin, return on investment.

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Ambrose Rwaheru Aheisibwe

Papers

Prospects of Cage Fish Farming in South Western Uganda

Profitability of apple enterprise among small-holder farmers in South Western Highland Agro-Ecological Zone (SWHAEZ) of Uganda.

Factors Influencing Farmers’ Decision to Adopt Apple Management Practices in Southwestern Highlands, Uganda