| dc.description.abstract | This research report provides background information of factors that impede adoption l and implementation of fish farming enterprises on a global perspective cascaded to Kenya with specific cases cited in countries currently leading in fish farming like China, Bangladesh, Japan and'India to those African countries where attempts are being made by government and donor agencies to promote fish farming. Access to good quality and timely information in support of fish farming has been cited to affect the decision of the farmers to adopt fish farming.
Lack of national fisheries development policy of many countries, donor priorities, lack of inputs such as fish seeds (fingerlings), manure and fertilizers, artificial feeding, insecticides and good fish pond . management are also mentioned as some of the problems impeding implementation of inland fish farming. Other factors are poor distribution of simple technical knowledge; insufficient financial resources and lack of understanding about the dynamics of pond fish culture. The research report provides dismal level of sustainability of fish farming projects in Rongo and Awendo districts as justification for research.
The objectives of the research was to examine how characteristics; input provisions; extension services and information offered to fanners affect implementation of inland fish farming enterprises and to identify strategies that can be adopted to enhance fish farming. The research report provides a literature review of previous works on factors influencing implementation of fish farming enterprises and anchored investigation on the adoption theory diffusion of innovation by professor Everett Rogers. It adopted descriptive survey research design and focused on a target population of 880 fish farmers and a sample size of 322 farmers and both primary and secondary data has been used.
The data generated in the study have been analyzed in accordance with the objectives of the study processed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS computer package. The study found that inland fish fanning is dominated by male farmers and those in the age brackets between 31-40 years. Married farmers adapt well to fish farming than other categories. It also found out that religious affiliations however have insignificant influence on fish fanning; that fish farmers own only 1 fish pond each which measure 300 m2 and below; that fish farmers have access to reliable source of water represented by perennial streams and springs; that fish farmers prefer stocking tilapia to catfish; and that farmers' training and extension services constrain fish farming in the study area.
The study concludes that lack of farmers' sensitization and training, inadequate extension services and lack of farm inputs as the major factors that impede implementation of fish farming enterprises in Rongo and Awendo districts. The study recommends the following strategies for enhancement of fish farming: sensitization and training of farmers, recruitment and staffing of extension service, establishment of additional hatcheries, availability of affordable fish feeds and organization of farmers to start cooperative societies for marketing purpose and mobilizing funds for expansion. Further research on response of fish to different feeding regimes and an investigation on economic viability for the inland fish farming enterprises in the Lake Victoria region have been suggested in addition to a replication of the study in other areas such as Kipkelion, Yala, Bungoma, Aldai, Funyula and Kuria that benefited from the previous fish farming interventions. | en_US |
