Youth engagement in fish farming offers numerous societal advantages in developing countries, including economic empowerment, improved food and nutrition security, enhanced social inclusion, reduced rural-to-urban migration, and the promotion of environmentally sustainable livelihoods. Despite these substantial benefits, youth participation in aquaculture remains low, raising concerns about underutilizing this sector’s transformative potential. This study investigates the limited engagement of youth in fish farming by examining the entry barriers they face, focusing on the production of Oreochromis karongae (commonly known as Chambo), a high-value fish species in Malawi. Fieldwork was conducted in Dowa and Mchinji districts between January and February 2022. A total of 102 youth fish farmers were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a probit regression model to identify determinants of participation. Results indicated that youth in aquaculture were predominantly reliant on agriculture for livelihoods and had relatively low education levels. Key participation factors included household size, access to extension services, land ownership, membership in farmer groups, and prior training. Major barriers were identified as limited access to capital and credit, high feed costs, scarce quality fingerlings, and inconsistent policy support. The study recommends targeted capacity-building, financial inclusion, and youth integration into aquaculture value chains.
Keywords: Probit model, Dowa, Mchinji, entry barriers, Oreochromis karongae, Chambo, Aquaculture.