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Impact of Withdrawing <i>Oreochromis niloticus</i> (Nile Tilapia) from Aquaculture Production in Zambia: A Case Study of Solwezi District

2013; Linguagem: Inglês

10.5376/ija.2013.03.0027

1927-5773

Simataa Simataa, Confred G. Musuka,

Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth

The impact of withdrawing Oreochromis niloticus (Nile Tilapia) from aquaculture production in Zambia was studied in five fish farming areas (Lumwana East, Shiinde, Meheba, Mutanda and Solwezi Central) of Solwezi district, where this species was highly promoted and widely distributed by the Department of Fisheries through an American Peace Corps Project called Rural Aquaculture Promotion (RAP). The study was conducted between July and August 2012, through a survey by administration of questionnaires and personal interviews. A total of 30 respondents (22 males and 8 females), thus twenty-five percent of the total population (120) of fish farmers were randomly selected for the study. Results of the study indicated that withdrawing O. niloticus had a negative impact on the overall aquaculture production. Withdraw of Nile tilapia culture resulted in the decrease in average annual pond yields per 100m 2 and house hold income. The study revealed that slightly over fifty-three (53.3%) per cent of farmers annual pond yields had fallen below 15kg per 100m 2 . Furthermore, 33.3% of annual household income dropped to below K300 (US$58). Reasons advanced for such changes were partly attributed to some farmers having their ponds not stocked and the slow growth of other cultured species compared to O. niloticus.