Fish farming is an emerging blue economy in Africa where if fish farmers are well trained can be a source of food security, economic growth and decent livelihoods (Ababouch et al , 2015) Fish farming is undoubtedly profitable, especially when cheap but nutritious ingredients are used along side best management practices (Sunwit, 2021)
Objective
To train fish farmers on best management practices in Raising Nile Tilapia fish in Kenya
To raise Nile Tilapia 0.4 g fry to 350g in 6 months on high quality feed from Company X
Materials and Methods
Experimental design was adopted for the study where a group of 27 fish farmers were selected and provided with 1000 all male Nile tilapia fingerlings of 0.4g.
The fish farmers were trained on physical, chemical and biological water quality parameters where, the commonly monitored parameters were; temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, alkalinity, hardness, ammonia, and nitrites. Water temperature and turbidity were taken 3 times daily before feeding. First two months the fry were fed four (4) times a day at interval of 2 hours on grumble of 44% crude protein. Third month fingerlings were transferred to fertilized pond and fed four (4) times a day on 2mm feed of 38% crude protein, Fourth to sixth month the fish was fed three (3) times a day on 35% crude protein feed . Sampling was done twice a month where weight in gramms and length in cm were determined to establish weight gain. The first two months the fry were raised in hapa nets to minimize predation. In the third month they were transferred in 300m2 covered with a predator net.
Results
From a total of 1000 fingerlings stocked a maximum of 910 fish were harvested while 90 pieces were uncounted for, representing 9% loss. Another 10% weighed between 300 – 350 g which was still considered better results as they were the most prefered by the farm gate market.
Conclusion
Feeding protocols, water quality, on farm best practice and feed quality influence fish growth.
Tiliapia farming is profitable if cheap but nutritious but feed is used.