An Investigation on Factors Influencing Sustainable Development of Fresh Water Aquaculture in Kenya: A Case of Vihiga County

Aquaculture has a great potential for growth in Kenya. There has been need for the government to promote fish culture to attain sustainable development goals of zero hunger. The study aims at investigating factors influencing sustainable development of fresh water Aquaculture in Kenya A case of Vihiga County. The objectives of the study are investigate how Production factors, and Extension influence sustainable development of freshwater aquaculture .Descriptive research design was used. The target population of this study was 110 respondents consisting of fish farmers. Sample size of the study was 96 respondents obtained by use of krejcie and Morgan’s table. Data was collected by questionnaire was analyzed by use of descriptive statistics through a statistical package for social sciences and excel. Results were presented using pie charts, graphs and tables. The study showed majority (55) respondents owned 1-2ponds and 92.3% had never closed any pond .The study showed that 76.9% of respondents stocked Tilapia .On source of fingerlings majority 47.4% and 44.9% obtained fingerlings form Neighbors and government farm respectively.The study also showed 98.7 % of respondents uses earthen ponds with river water as source of water 61.5%. The study showed that majority 42.3% of respondents maintains pond water level and parameters daily .The study also showed that 46.2% of respondents had never experienced fish diseases however 29.6% had experienced bacterial infections. Birds were the main fish predators by 67.9%. Majority of respondents 88.7% had attended training on aquaculture. The main conclusion of the study is that there are myriads of factors that influence sustainable development of fresh water. The recommendation of the study is that county government to develop clear marketing strategies for cultured fish. The study is vital to stakeholders to promote sustainable development of fresh water aquaculture in Kenya.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

DECLARATION AND APPROVAL ...................................................................................... i

PERMISSION FOR PUBLICATION: ...................................................................................

ii DEDICATION .........................................................................................................................

iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ......................................................................................................

iv LIST OF TABLES....................................................................................................................

x LIST OF FIGURES.................................................................................................................

xi CHAPTER ONE .......................................................................................................................

1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................

1 1.1.  Background to the Study ...............................................................................................

1 1.1.1.  Sustainability of Aquaculture sector. ...............................................................

1 1.1.2.  Trend in world aquaculture production...........................................................

1.1.3.  Trend  in  aquaculture  production  in  Africa  and  contribution  to  World aquaculture sector ............................................................................................................. 5

1.1.4.  Trend  in  aquaculture  production  in  Kenya  and  contribution  to  global aquaculture sector ............................................................................................................. 6

1.1.5.  Contribution  of  Government  economic  stimulus  Programme  (ESP)  to  the development of aquaculture in Kenya............................................................................. 9

1.2.  Problem Statement ...................................................................................................... 10

1.3. Significance of the study. .................................................................................................. 11

1.4  .Purpose of the study ................................................................................................... 11

1.5.  Objectives of the study. ........................................................................................ 11

1.6.  Scope and limitation of the study. ................................................................................ 12

1.7.  Delimitation   of the study............................................................................................ 12

1.8.  Assumptions of the study ............................................................................................. 12

CHAPTER TWO .................................................................................................................... 13

LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................................................................... 13 

2.1.1. Status of fresh water aquaculture practice in Vihiga County........................... 13

2.1.2. Tilapia production systems in Vihiga County. ................................................... 14

2.1.3. Biology of Tilapia as major cultured fish species in Vihiga .............................. 14

2.2. Review on factors influencing fresh water Aquaculture ................................................... 15

2.3 Ecological factors and Aquaculture................................................................................... 15

2.3.1  Water  Quality,  quantity  and  Temperature  parameters  on  fresh  water aquaculture ...................................................................................................................... 16

2.4.1 Availability of land and Land tenure systems. .................................................... 18

2.4.2 Quality of Feeds On sustainable development of Aquaculture.......................... 18

2.4.3 Capital for aquaculture development................................................................... 19

2.4.4. Trainings and extension services ................................................................................... 19

2.5. Theoretical frame work.................................................................................................... 20

2.5.1. Sustainable Development concept theory. .......................................................... 20

2.5.2. Development and Modernization theory............................................................. 21

2.6. Conceptual Framework.................................................................................................... 21

2.7. Research knowledge gap in the study. .............................................................................. 23

2.8. Research Questions. ......................................................................................................... 23

CHAPTER THREE: .............................................................................................................. 24

MATERIALS AND METHODS ........................................................................................... 24

3.1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 24

3.2 Research Design ................................................................................................................ 24

3.3 Target Population ............................................................................................................. 24

3.4 Sample Size and Sampling Techniques.............................................................................. 25

3.5. Research Instruments and procedures. ............................................................................ 25

3.6. Validity and Reliability of the research Instruments ........................................................ 26

3.7. Techniques for Data Analysis ........................................................................................... 27

3.8. Ethical considerations ...................................................................................................... 27

RESULTS ANALYSIS, PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION .......................... 29 

       vii  4.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 29

4.2 Respondent Response rate: ............................................................................................... 29

4.3. Respondents distribution by their educational level. ........................................................ 29

4.3.1 Period worked in Aquaculture sector................................................................... 30

4.4. INFLUENCE OF PRODUCTION/ECOLOGICAL FACTORS ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF FRESH WATER AQUACULTURE. .................................................. 32

4.4.1. Number of fish  ponds owned by  farmers and those closed  down in relation  to productivity and sustainability. ..................................................................................... 32

4.4.2. Main fish species cultured and the level of sustainability of the species in fresh water aquaculture development..................................................................................... 34

4.4.3. Source  of fingerlings  and  level of  reliability  and sustainability  for  sustainable development of fresh water aquaculture....................................................................... 36

4.4.4. Nature of fish pond and factors for the construction of this pond Type.......... 38

4.4.5. Source of water for fish farm and level of sustainability................................... 39

4.4.6 Maintenance of pond water Level and Monitoring of water quality parameters. ........................................................................................................................................... 41

4.4.7.  Nature  of  fish  predators,  diseases  and  water  pollution  on  sustainability  of aquaculture. ..................................................................................................................... 43

4.4.8.  Fish  feeds  used  for  Fish  production  and  its  sustainability  in  fresh  water aquaculture development. .............................................................................................. 46

4.5.1 Major source of capital for Sustainable fish farming projects. ......................... 49

4.5.2.  Land  tenure  and  ownership  systems  for  Aquaculture  practice  and  level  of sustainability. ................................................................................................................... 51

4.5.3. Major  Source of  labour for  fish farming  and its  sustainability in  development of fresh water aquaculture in Vihiga County. .............................................................. 53

4.5.4.  Training  and  Fisheries  extension  and  sustainability  in  the  development  of aquaculture in Vihiga County. ....................................................................................... 54 

4.5.5.  Other  Sources  of  additional  information  on  aquaculture  extension  /Trainings and their level of sustainability in development of aquaculture sector. ..................... 56

4.6. Summary of the Chapter.................................................................................................. 58

DISCUSSION  OF  RESULTS,  SUMMARY,  CONCLUSION  AND RECOMMENDATIONS. ...................................................................................................... 59

5.1. Introduction. .................................................................................................................... 59

5.2. Discussion of Results of the study. .................................................................................... 59

5.2.1. Influence of Production / ecological factors on sustainable development of fresh water aquaculture. .......................................................................................................... 59

5.2.2.  Influence  of  Social-  Economic  factors,  Training  and  extension  on  sustainable development of fresh water aquaculture....................................................................... 64

5.3. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS. ................................................................................... 66

5.3.1. Influence of Production / ecological factors on sustainable development of fresh water aquaculture. .......................................................................................................... 66

5.3.2.  Influence  of  Social-  Economic  factors,  Training  and  extension  on  sustainable development of fresh water aquaculture....................................................................... 67

5.4. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE STUDY. ................................ 69

5.4.1. Conclusion of the study......................................................................................... 69

5.4.2. Recommendations of the study. ........................................................................... 69

5.5. Proposed areas of further research. ................................................................................. 71

4.0.   REFERENCES ........................................................................................................... 72 APPENDICES......................................................................................................................... 77

APPENDIX I:.......................................................................................................................... 77

INTRODUCTION LETTER TO THE RESPONDENTS .................................................. 77

APPENDIX 2 .......................................................................................................................... 78

PARTICIPANT INFORMATION SHEET ......................................................................... 78

APPENDIX 3 .......................................................................................................................... 81