ISSN 2348-1218 (print) International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations ISSN 2348-1226 (online) Vol. 9, Issue 2, pp: (101-107), Month: April - June 2021, Available at: www.researchpublish.com
“One-step at a time”: Adopting fish Farming technologies as a smart farming initiative among smallholder farmers in Oyam district, Uganda 1 1
Patrick Ocen, 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: Recent trends indicate that the level of environmental degradation and its impact on climate change is almost irrevocable; the global society has decided that issues of climate change become central to every strategy, policy framework, programmes and intervention. Before this, a number of academics projected that we would reach this level given that human numbers appeared to outgrow all other resources and human needs such as food, housing, public facilities and transportation. As yet, farming, which cannot be stopped due to the need to feed the growing human population, demands a far different trend so that humanity continue surviving. Smart technologies, in every aspect, including farming has thus become the buzzword and nations have no choice but to adopt available technologies. Our paper discusses one of these innovative technologies, fish farming, outside of the traditional freshwaters in lakes, rivers and oceans. We focus on fish farming technologies as a strategy to enhancing smart farming, which is recognised as a frontrunner in offering farmers and humanity a choice to contribute to sustainable development. We conclude that there are many innovative ventures in smart farming but fish farming technologies in terms of construction design of the fish pond, water quality management in the fish pond, feeding of the fish, and marketing of the harvested fish, appear to offer a wider hope. Nonetheless, lowincome households will have to keep relying on fish from freshwaters. Keywords: Fish farming, smart farming, Oyam, fish pond, feeding.
1. INTRODUCTION China is said to have started fish farming as early as 2000 BC , and the common types of fish that were majorly cultured was brought forward by Fan Lei in 475 B.C. (Villaluz, 1953). Romans constructed fishponds during the first Century A.D and fishpond construction got spread throughout Europe by the religious leaders during the middle ages (Lovell, Shell &Smitherman 1978). Fish farming in the Eastern countries of Europe became prominent during 12 th and 13th centuries. In Southeast Asia, fishponds were believed to have developed naturally along with salt making in coastal areas; the salt beds were utilized to grow milkfish during the rainy season. This practice was originated by the Malay natives before A.D 1400 (Schuster, 1952). Early interest in fish culture in the United States was carried over from England before 1800 and was concentrated on propagation and culture of trout salmon. In this there has been application of pond filing technology. Globally, however evidence indicates that in many areas fishery management is failing (Cichrame, 2000). Though it has been geared toward full employment and social peace, the management of the fishery industry has not achieved this goal. According to FAO reports (2005) the system is not operating in a sustainable and efficient manner. Over the years, however, efforts have been made to develop new technologies, which have been introduced to the industry. This has led to more fish being caught, but this has also resulted in the overexploitation of fisheries (MacLennan, 1995). Among major
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