The Effect of Fish Farming Systems on Water quality and community livelihoods in Mbale: A Socio Economic and Biophysical Assessment
Abstract
150 words
Fish farming contributes to people’s livelihoods, nutrition
security, and foreign exchange. However, these potential may
be achieved at the expense of the environment. This study
determined the effect of fish farming on water quality and
livelihoods of the communities in Mbale Sub region, eastern
Uganda . The study was conducted between November 2010
and June 2011. Quality parameters were conducted at Best
Buy Fish Farm located at 36N0630269, UTM0120510 in Mbale
town. The results revealed that the water quality did not affect
livelihoods for those practicing on small scale. Fish farming
was beneficial: farmers educated their children (24.2%), bought
assets (12.5%) and improved food consumption (9.2%).
Challenges included: poor quality fish seed and shortage of
feeds. Therefore, fish farming should be promoted by
implementing policies that encourage Government/Partenership
to invest in hatcheries in order to increase quality fries supply,
and encourage research in quality feeds to improve farmers
profit margins.
Subjects
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