Assessing factors affecting smallholder earthen pond fish farming in the varied climates of the Rwenzori Region, Uganda
The impact of climatic variations on the aquaculture yield of tropical mountainous regions is an understudied phenomenon. These regions are subdivided into microclimatic zones that range from polar to tropical climate types. Low biodiversity in Sub-Saharan Africa’s aquaculture restricts the efficien...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Aquaculture Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352513425000754 |
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| Summary: | The impact of climatic variations on the aquaculture yield of tropical mountainous regions is an understudied phenomenon. These regions are subdivided into microclimatic zones that range from polar to tropical climate types. Low biodiversity in Sub-Saharan Africa’s aquaculture restricts the efficient use of abundant mountainous water resources, impacting food security and poverty alleviation efforts. This study uses survey data from smallholder fish farms in five districts of Uganda’s Rwenzori region, gridded rainfall and temperature data, and a 0.0083° resolution Köppen-Geiger climate classification map to assess barriers to aquaculture production. It investigates how climatic variations, production methods, and sociodemographic factors influence aquaculture yields. Additionally, it identifies perceived barriers to production. The results show that climatic variations significantly impact fish yields. Fish farms in the tropical savannah climate (Aw) yielded three times more fish than those in the tropical rainforest climate (Af) (reference group) (p < 0.05). Fish yields decreased by half in farms that practiced polyculture compared to monoculture (p < 0.01). Farms that supplemented commercial pellets with locally available products had a three-fold higher fish yield than those relying solely on commercial pellets (p < 0.05). Perceived major challenges include access to technical support services, quality fish feeds, and fingerlings. The results highlight the poor fish yields (10.48 ± 1.16 t/ha/yr) from earthen pond aquaculture in the studied area. Beyond the commonly discussed challenges of aquaculture, microclimates may represent a significant yet overlooked obstacle to the sector’s growth. Consequently, we question the overall suitability of the cultured fish species given the diverse climate types in the Rwenzori region. This study calls for a broader approach to aquaculture that considers unique climatic conditions and diversifies the species cultivated to optimize the use of available resources. |
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| ISSN: | 2352-5134 |