Member-specific characteristics affecting capacity of farmer organisations in promoting fish farming: case of Dowa and Mchinji districts in Malawi

This study examines some selected member-specific characteristics affecting capacity of farmer organizations in promoting fish farming. Five fish farmer organizations which undertook fish farming activities under the auspices of Community Action Research Programme were purposely selected for the study. Data collection comprised face to face interviews and focus group discussions with members of the farmer groups. Key informant interviews with leaders of farmer groups and extension workers were also conducted. Data were analysed using content analysis, critical discourse analysis and descriptive statistics. Results showed that various member-specific factors have an important bearing on performance as well as the success of fish farmer organisations. Some selected member-specific characteristics namely gender, marital status, landholding size and age are shown to have a significant (p > 0.05) influence on participation of the farmers in fish farmer organisations. Another study with a larger sample of farmers and farmer organizations should be carried out as a follow-up to this study.