ISSN 2348-1218 (print) International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations ISSN 2348-1226 (online) Vol. 9, Issue 2, pp: (51-58), Month: April - June 2021, Available at: www.researchpublish.com
Ideas matter: Using aquaculture technology to enhance smart farming in Lira city, mid-north Uganda 1 1
Patrick Rolex Akena, 2David Mwesigwa
MA student, Discipline of Public Administration and Management, Lira University, Uganda
2
Senior lecturer, Discipline of Public Administration and Management, Lira University, Uganda
Abstract: This study aimed to determine how adoption of aquaculture can translate into smart farming among urban farmers in Lira city. A descriptive study design was adopted targeting only one fish farm in the city and data was collected using interviews and observations were used as well as reviews of secondary data which were used at the introductory party of this work. Questions were asked to the farm manager and the director who later joined us during the questions and answers session; and analysed thematically. The findings show that the three aspects of aquaculture, namely; the hatchery where eggs are extracted and hatched, water production used to sustain the pond and the fish inside, and the pond security have a greater potential of enhancing smart farming among urban farmers in Lira city and the country as a whole. Nevertheless, adoption of aquaculture is yet to be embraced by a good number of urban farmers, something likely to derail the country from attaining adequate nutrients as well as tapping into both local and regional fish markets. The outcomes of this study may be used by urban authorities and the line ministry to develop guidelines for engaging smallholder urban farmers more aggressively into the enterprise as well as conserving the environment. This paper contributes to the growing both of knowledge by underscoring one of the affordable smart farming technologies that can be adopted create selfemployment, better nutrition and food security in the region. Keywords: Smart farming, aquaculture, hatchery, water, pond.
1. INTRODUCTION Trained Apiary Farmers (TAF) Assured Mixed Enterprises is an agri-tourism farm, was started in the year 2008 at Ngetta Sub-county, Lira district (now Ngetta ward, Lira City East Division-Lira City) basically as beekeeping, fruit production, and mixed farming project. Tom Anyii Okello, the Managing Director of TAF recounts how he started the farm with only eight local beehives before being supported by the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), hence acquiring up to 200 hives by 2011 when the enterprise finally got registered with the government as a community-based organization (CBO) to provide skills, knowledge, materials, market and to add value to agricultural products. The idea of starting a farm was conceived in 2007 when he attended a motivational and life-changing training on economic management and transformation at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) Kyankwanzi. Anyii adds that this training which was organized for sub-county chiefs across the country was conducted by the Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development to empower leaders with skills and the right attitude to cause economic transformation and prosperity in the villages. After being motivated, Anyii later opened his farming enterprise on a four-hectare piece of customary land but later expanded the farm by acquiring other nearby land and now operates his farming business on 12 hectares of land all located in the same cell. Since then, Trained Apiary Farmers (TAF) Assured Mixed Enterprises have ventured into poultry farming, rabbit rearing, citrus farming, and piggery alongside apiary or beekeeping which was the first enterprise of the farm and fish farming
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