Integrated Agriculture

Aquaculture
Basic Guide to Fish Production Systems
History of Fish farming
Fish farming is not a new industry, nor is it an
untested concept
The earliest records of fish farming are from China
and the practice was used as far back as 2500 BC.
This early farming activity involved capturing fish
from rivers and hold them in ponds.
The Bible refers to fish farming as a way to earn a
living in Egypt (Isaiah, Chapter 19, verse 8),
This ancient practice was a simple indigenous form
of sustainable farming, designed to increase food
supplies while diminishing the environmental
effects of another farm activity.
What do we get from eating fish?
Source of protein and minerals
Fish is a good source of high quality proteins
( about 100g of fish can give you about 20g of
protein of which a healthy person needs about
60g of protein a day.
Fish are also generally lower in fat and calories
than beef, poultry or pork.
Fish oil slows aging process by activating DNA
chromosomes known as telomeres which act as
time keepers.
Fish is also loaded with minerals such as iron,
zinc and calcium.
What do we get from eating fish?
Omega-3 fatty acids
These fatty acids can regulate heart beat.
Help lower your blood pressure.
Reduces the risk of death from heart disease.
For pregnant women, mothers who are breastfeeding,
and women of childbearing age, fish intake is beneficial
for the brain development of infants.
Remedy a host of cognitive abnormalities like brain fog,
depression, neurological disorders and dementia.
Helps to protect memory and hormone production and
nervous system function.
Fish have tender flesh, hence is very digestible for people
of all ages
Words of Wisdom to a farmer
Never depend on single farming enterprise
Make investment to create a second chance.
Integrating fish farming with other farming
activities, hence minimising input costs and
maximising profits
Increasing our livestock base
Conserving the natural fisheries resources
Integrated Agriculture Aquaculture
Chicken~ Fish Farming ~ Horticulture
Pig~ Fish Farming ~ Horticulture
Duck ~ Fish Farming ~ Horticulture.
Goats ~ Fish Farming ~ Horticulture

If the ponds water level is higher than the crop fields,
it is possible to drain and irrigate the farmlands.
First, the water is reused, which is important in
southern Africa due to the limited supply of
freshwater.
Second, the water coming from the pond is likely to
have a higher nutrient load due to excretion by the
fish. This extra nutrient is beneficial to the plants.
Integrated Agriculture Aquaculture
TILAPIA BREAM
There are over 100 different species of tilapia, each with
unique characteristics, behavior, and suitability to fish
farming. A few of the most commonly farmed are the
1) Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) commercial feed with
good water quality management 300-500gr/4-6months,
2) Green Headed tilapia (O. O machrochiir ) 150-200gr/
year,
3) Mozambique tilapia (O. mossambicus), Fast growth (150-
350gr /year)
4) Red breasted tilapia (T. rendalli). Omnivorous & predate
on eggs other fish Low growth rate 100-150gr/year
NILE TILAPIA
Referred to as Aquatic Chicken.
Good fish for resource constrained farmers because is:
1) Oreochromis niloticus is easy to raise
2) Fast growing and tasty
3) Able to eat many types of foods and are low on the
food chain
4) Highly disease resistant
5) Able to reproduce easily
6) Hardy and can tolerate poor water quality conditions
7) Tilapia thrive in warm tropical areas.
 Site Selection Parameters
Availability of Perennial water.
Water is the most important factor when setting up a
fish farm. Water must be available through out the year.
Seasonal fish farming can be done provided the water is
available for 5 to 6 months.
Water sources for fish farming include:
-Diversion of perennial rivers.
-Extension of irrigation canals and pipes.
-Siphoning or connection of dam outlet pipes.
-Recharge or seepage water supply
Extraction of underground water
Site identification Parameters
Availability of land.
Community ponds must be on none contested land.
 An agreement must be signed to safeguard site
reclamation.
Availability of land also helps to determine the size of pond.
Land availability also help farmer to decide on integration
activities. Is there any space for the garden that will be
irrigated by water from the pond.
Is there any space to set up animal pens to supply the pond
with manure.
Is the available land able to accomodate a commercial fish
farm.
Site Identification
Land
Accommodate a minimum of 100m² to 1000m² for
commercial Aquaculture.
10x10m = 100m²
10x20m = 200m²
20x50m = 1000m²
25x40m = 1000m²
10x2omx5 ponds = 1000m²
2ox25mx2 ponds = 1000m²
Site identification cont
Type of soil
Impermeable soils are most suitable eg clay
Clay content and water holding capacity must be
tested
The results from soil testing will determine whether to
use or not to use dam liner/membrane
 Pond Depth
 Shallow end 0.5 to 0.8m
Deep end 1.3 to 1.5m
If the pond is too shallow –
Water easily heats up during hot season.
Water easily cools down in winter/frost.
Sunlight will reach the ground and allow the weeds to grow
in the pond exhausting Dissolved Oxygen at night
If too deep-
There will be little sunlight penetration and little growth of
algae
Variation in depth means variation in temperatures within
one pond)
 Materials required. (20mx10m
pond)
Item Quantity Estimated Use of Item(s)
Specification cost.
Labour 1 $250 Pond Excavation

110mm PVC pipe 2 $15 each Water Outlet connection (lateral

and upright)
110mm PVC Bend 1 $5 each Connecting the lateral and upright
pipe at outlet section.
Cement bag 1 $12 Outlet pipe installation.
River sand 3 wheelbarrows Mix with cement for outlet
installation.
250-300 micron 24x14m = 336m² $336 Water loss control/infiltration
dam liner $1 per m²

Total Cost $618

POND CONSTRUCTION
Stages
Site clearance
Pegging (Length should cut across the slope)
Core trenching
Core trench backfilling and compaction
Outlet pipe installation
Core wall construction.
Compacted Embankment/Dyke construction
Pond excavation
Pond construction cont
Dyke and pond bottom shaping.
Dam lining and bottom compaction.
Stone pitching
Water Inlet connection.
Pond testing and filling.
Water culturing is needed.
Pond stocking and feeding the fingerlings.
Pond Filling and testing
If pond construction is complete it is
advised that the pond must be filled with
water 2 weeks before stocking to check,
If there are no leaks and faults on drainage.
If the desired water levels are correct and or
achieved.
If the water covers the whole pond base
Give time for the growth of plankton.
WATER CULTURING
Water should be able to keep fish alive therefore it should be
cultured.
Apply animal and chicken manure to induce green colour.
 To avoid pond silting put chicken and animal manure in sack
and then soak into the pond – do not throw into the pond
directly.
 If pig manure is supplied from pens by drainage a soaker away is
needed to collect solids.
 Pea Green colour observation –
 This is an ideal water pigmentation for natural fish feed to grow.
 Phytoplankton photosynthesise and manufacture Dissolved
Oxygen for fish.
 What are the application rates?
 Application rate is determined by the water colour – when we
reach pea green we pull out the manure bags.
Water Quality Parameters
Temperature Min 15°C Max 33°C Optimum 24°C-28°C
When the temperature of the water increases past the
temperature best for the species, the fish will use more
energy and thereby create more waste
Disolved oxygen Min 3ppt Max Saturated
PH Min 6 Max 9 opt 8
Turbidity clear water
ELBOW TESTING
Stocking of fingerlings
Stock with fish 1 to 2g at density of 5 fish per m².
This gives us 1000 fish for our 200m² pond.
When receiving fish ensure that you collect them early in the
morning and try to stock early
 – first float the bag on top of the pond water for 30 -60
minutes - to acclimatise the temperature.
Open the bag containing fingerlings
little by little, let the pond water mix with the bagged water,
The fingerlings will start to swim out of the bag into the pond.
Rushing to release fingerlings into the pond with a different
water temperature range may shock the fingerlings.
 And die due to thermal shock.
Stocking of fingerlings

Acclimatization
- To avoid thermal shock causing mortalities.
- Let plastic container float in the pond for 30 – 60
minutes before releasing fingerlings.

Stocking
Early in the morning or late in the afternoon to reduce
stress on the stocks.
Feeding
It is recommended to feed fingerling 12-24 hours after
stocking since they will be stressed due to transportation.
It is also recommended to salt bath your fingerling soon
after stocking.
Or commercial feed from the start–
 always feed from the same place from the deeper end of
the pond.
Wait for about 10 minuets before you throw the food in
pond.
This will allow all the fish to come to the feeding place.
Feed at the same time every day.
Feed fish as per feeding response.
Don’t damp the feed in the pond.
Do not feed fish when gaping for Oxygen
 Commercial Feed Only
Feeds
Per Day
Feed For Kg
1000 fish Type Duration Required Fish Size
medium 6
Starter 2 crumble 21 days 5 kg 1-5g
large 4
Starter 3 crumble 21 days 10 kg 5-15g
small 4
Juvenile 1 pellet 30 days 50 kg 15-50g
medium 3
Juvenile 2 pellet 30 days 75 kg 50-150g
large 3
Grower pellet 100 days 450 kg 150-500g
Pond Management
Gasping in the morning –
this is a sign that the oxygen levels are low.
Causes for this can be…
Too many nutrients in the water, giving too much
algae, which is in turn stripping the oxygen. Stop
feeding or exchange with fresh water.
Too many fish in the pond or the fish that are
there are too big. Harvest the pond.
Pale colour -Another sign of stress in the fish is
that the fish are pale in colour. Improve water
quality.

Vulture
Common fish predators
Koi bird Otter

Frog Snake
Predator and theft control
Fencing and locking of the pond
Otters face difficulties to catch fish in big and clean
ponds
A bird net can be installed on pond
Pond tangling impede poachers’ nets
A guard room must be built at the site.
FISH HEALTH AND
DISEASES
 WHITE SPOT DISEASE
1.-fresh water white spot disease

Causative agent
-Protozoa(ichthyophthirius multifiliis)


White Spot Disease
Clinical signs
-Anorexia
-Rapid breathing
-Not schooling
-Hiding
-Upside down swimming
-Resting on the bottom, rubbing and scratching
against objects.
-Nodules like white grains of salt or sugar of up to
1mm appear on the body, fins and gills.
 . White Spot Disease
Predisposing factors
-Changes in water temperatures
-Poor water quality
-Stress
Prevention & control
-Good quality water
-Regulate water temp/ Heat treatment
-Treat infected fish with malachite-green.
-Chlorine and salt treatment.
 2. Fish fungus
Caused by:
-Saprolegnia & Achyla species (water moulds)
Predisposing factors:-
-wounds and injuries
Clinical signs
-White / grey cotton-like on body and fins
Prevention /Treatment
- fight the cause of fish injuries by applying the
correct combination of your pond spps and keep
water condition stable
- malachite- green chloride
 3. Dropsy
Caused by gram negative bacteria
Predisposing factors
- stress
-Low water temps
-poor water quality
Clinical signs
-Hugely swollen belly, skin lesions, scales stand
out (pinecone appearance), then eyes bulge,
pale gills, red swollen anus, off feeding then
hangs near the surface then death.
Dropsy
Prevention and treatment
-Quarantine infected ponds
- Add salt to hospital tanks, 1tea spoon per
gallon,
- feed fresh high quality feeds
- then treat with anti-biotics
 4. Bacterial finrot
Caused by: saprolegnia
Predisposing factors
-Too many fish in a pond, how? By bulling from
other fish and fin-nipping.
-Poor water quality
Clinical signs
-Damaged or injured fins
-Fins rot and stump remains or completely
disappear.
Prevention & control
-Use of anti-biotics eg tetracyclines and Salt Bath
-Introduce fresh water in the pond
 External parasites
Leeches/ anchor worm
Hang on skin and fins, then suck the fish out that
results in over reaction of the pond fish.
Predisposing factors
-Very muddy garden ponds
-Pond plants where these anchor worms rest b4 they
infect the fish
Prevention & treatment
-Avoid too much muddy in the pond/s
-Use mercurochrome chemical to kill the parasite/s
HARVESTING
Farmers can begin to harvest some fish after 4 to 6 months from
stocking.
Do not feed fish 2 to 5days before harvesting.
Drain the water through the outlet pipe to reduce water
levels
Use of sie net is most recommended in Aquaculture
It gives farmers the chance to monitor health, growth rates,
breeding, getting rid of predators and parasite like catfish,
frogs etc.
NB: Do not use mosquito nets your fish will die
Gill nets, selective nets hook and line can be used but they
cause injuries to fish that will escape.
 FISH FARMING AS A
BUSINESS
Aquaculture is a business and should be
promoted and managed as such.
Fish farmers should expect economic gain
through providing food for the family, selling
fish, or offering services such as sport-fishing
in exchange for monetary gains.
This should be every farmer’s goal.
Commercialising Aquaculture
In a commercial setup, the fish farmer has to
understand that fish are usually reared for economic
benefit. The farmer has to make many organizational
and operational decisions; key among these are:
What species of fish to produce?
What quantity of the selected species to produce?
What mix of resources and technology to use?
When and where to sell or buy?
How to finance the operation?
Commercializing Aquaculture
The business of farming fish is to make a profit.
 The aim of the business should be to maximize
farm profitability.
 Fish Farming business decisions should be made,
in the same way that other businesses operate, on
the basis of sound economic information.
 The business of fish farming should be about
producing a fish or a mix of fish products which
the market, buyers and consumers require:
Fish farming business inputs
Innovation is a very important concept in
creating competitiveness in the value chain
is the introduction of new or improved

product/service to the market. (fish feed)

Is the introduction of new or improved

process to business.
The value chain assessment is the first step

to understand and identify opportunities

and constraints in the aquaculture sector
Innovative training
It is important for the fish farmer to have firsthand
knowledge of the basics of fish farm business
management skills.
To understand why you are getting good or poor
yields.
Male dominated fish seed grows very fast
A commercial fish farmer is expected to use sex
reversed fingerlings
Fish farmers are expected to feed their fish with
commercial feed.
FISH FARM MANAGEMENT BEST PRACTICES

Keeping good records forms the basis of smoothly

running a fish farm business and this contributes
directly to understanding the economics of such a
venture .
 particularly the balance between costs and
returns of your operation, which determines how
profitable it is.
Record Keeping

Records are sets of information that have been

systematically and carefully collected and
appropriately stored for a specific purpose. To be able
to run any economic enterprise successfully, carefully
throughout and properly collected records are a must.

Comprehensive record keeping will assist both in

tracking farm activities and expenses and in assessing
the level of investment, the motivation of the investor,
and the management skills of the farmer.
Importance of Record Keeping

Tracking the activities of your enterprise

Tracking the expenses of the enterprise
Monitoring the performance of the enterprise
Evaluating the performance and operations of the
enterprise
Making decisions about improving operations
Keeping institutional memory of the enterprise
Good records will, for example:

Be useful in projection of expected production

Help in determining the amount of inputs required for
specific ponds at various stages of fish production
Help determine the expected harvesting time
Determine the economic health of the enterprise
 Important Fish farming Parameters
for Record Keeping
Pond identity
Total area under culture
Fish species stocked
Sources of seed
Stocking densities and time
Kinds, quantities, and costs of inputs
Daily events
Fish production in amounts and values
Production of other farm crops and their values
Classification of Fish Farming Records

Fish farming biological management records, e.g.:

Specific pond production (quantity and value), by
species
Stocking details for each pond (species and numbers)
Harvest details for each pond (species, numbers, and
weights)
Financial management records

Purchase of inputs, including quantities and costs

Records of input usage, e.g., feeds and labour
Costs of labour, including the type and duration
Costs of new construction or repairs
Salaries, both in cash and in kind
Sales records, including what was sold, quantities, and
prices
Inventory of equipment
Costs of renting or hiring equipment, machinery,
services, etc.
Records of significant events.

Visits by extension officers and recommendations

given
Unusual weather that may affect pond productivity or
farm
Operations
Pond management checks
Water supply: Main water intake, main feeder canal,
other canals, and pond inlets.
Pond: Water level, water quality, pond wall condition,
bottom mud, aquatic vegetation, other structures.
Fish: Behaviour, colour , feed utilization,
growth/production, health.
Farm: Protection (fencing, theft, erosion),
stores/stocks, land vegetation, animal husbandry.
 Reasons to Monitor Fish Regularly
Check the general condition and health of the fish.
Determine rates of growth.
Determine efficiency of feeding (feed conversion).
Adjust the daily feeding ration and save on feed costs.
Check if stocking rate is appropriate; if too high, crop
(out) the bigger fish.
Check if stock is reaching target weights and help plan or
revise the production or harvesting schedule.
As small-scale fish farming becomes a more commercial
venture, maintaining detailed and accurate records
becomes an important task to be carried out regularly by
the farm manager for several reasons:
Major Inventories
Feed Inventory
Fish Stock Inventory
Chemical Inventory
General Stock Inventory
Financial Records
Production Records
Fish production (in kg) for each species and weight class. It is
equal to output minus stocking weight.
Duration of production cycle (in days).
Average production rate (in kg/100 m2/year) are estimated for
each species and weight class as (total production kg x
365)/(pond area in 100 m2 x n days)
Average growth rate of fish (in g/day, column 15) are estimated as
(average weight at harvest – average weight at stocking)/n days)
e.g., for tilapia it was (122.7 g – 20 g)/166 days) = 0.62 g/day.
Survival rates (in percent) are obtained by comparing for each
species, number of fish stocked (NS) to total number of fish
harvested (NH), as (NH/100) x NS)
Under Remarks take note of further information such as sale
price of fish seed
 MARKETING IN THE FISH
FARMING BUSINESS
“Marketing is getting the right goods (or services)
in the right quantity to the right place at the right
time and making a profit on the operation.”
Roles of marketing.

Creating customers;
Keeping customers;
Profitable customers.
The business of fish farming should be about
producing a fish or a mix of fish products which the
market, buyers and consumers require:
Roles of marketing.

What they want? – Fish and fish product;

How they want it? – Whole gutted, filleted, dried or
wet etc;
Where they want it? – Harare, road side, Hotel,
South Africa etc;
When they want it? – Day, month, season or holiday
And of course at a price which returns the best profit
for the farm.
Marketing Plan
The plan outlines the relevant background data,
 identifies threats and opportunities.
defines your objectives.
 action programs.
budget and control measures to monitor the
implementation of your plan.

The purpose of a Marketing Plan

Define the Market ;

Refine the Production Plan to market requirements ;
Develop a marketing strategy ;
Minimize risk.
Marketing Mix (4Ps in marketing)

 Product
 What forms of product do you sale?
Live fish
Fresh chilled
Frozen guts in
Frozen guts out
Steaks
Product

Nuggets
Fillets (skin on or skin off)
Strips (smaller pieces coming from fillets)
Dried salted or unsalted
Fish heads
Fish oil
Smoked fish
Breaded fish
 Which product forms are more sought after and profitable
 The quality of your product

 Packaging
Price

Different species have different prices

Things to remember when pricing your fish and fish
products:
Price in your area or outside area;
Price by season;
The quality of your fish must determine price;
The product form determines price;
Is your price profitable? ;
Selling price minus cost price = profit;
Know your costs ;
Promotion

Promotion is a way to attract customers

A good quality product must be able to sell itself
Aim to distinguish your products from your
competitors
Advertise in various media
Recipes, samples etc
Place

The place is where to market your products

The place is determined by: processing units, delivery
facilities, closeness to fish supplies
Check also your target market location
 Individual consumers
 Retail market
 Roadside market
 Lodges/hotels
 Local restaurants
 Festival activities (gatherings)
 Other: office buildings
 Special high value markets: e.g. Asian Embassies.
Farm gate

This is marketing done at the place where the product

is produced. Consumers come to the farm to buy
produce.
Advantages of farm gate marketing:
no transport costs;
can be marketed by the farmer, thus costs are reduced;
better suited to the small-scale farmer;
Disadvantages of farm gate marketing:

farmer must accept the local price for their produce

which may be lower;
farm may not be well located to market the product;
once the local market’s demand is supplied, the
farmer has to look to more distant markets;
Farm Stall or Road side Marketing
This channel is a further development on marketing
from the farm, as it goes some way towards taking the
product to the consumer. At the simplest level, a farm
stall may be operated by the farmer or farmer group
marketing.
Advantages:

Minimal transport costs;

Larger markets can be exploited;
Farmers can take advantage of more favourable prices;
Price fluctuations are generally small;

Disadvantages:
The quality of the produce may need to be higher as the
consumer in the market may be more demanding;
A constant supply of produce must be available to satisfy
the needs of the market;
Farmers must be flexible on pricing the produce;
Door to-Door Marketing (Vending)

With door-to-door marketing, you would market your

produce directly to consumers at their households.
Advantages of door-to-door marketing:
can be sold and promoted by the farmers themselves;
marketing margins can be reduced, meaning a higher
price for the product can be obtained;
Disadvantages of door-to-door marketing:

transport is essential and may be difficult or

expensive;
time required for marketing may be longer than if the
farmer sold through other channels;
Direct Sales to Larger Buyers
This can include sales to:-
Institutional buyers(feeding large numbers e.g. Police,
Army, Education, Hospitals);
Hotels and resorts;
Restaurants;
Guest houses apartments;
Supermarkets and stores;
Advantages

 An assured outlet for the farm production;

 Usually is a local sale so transport is not expensive;
 Usually a consistent demand ;

Disadvantages

 One farmer may not be able to meet the demand throughout the year;
 Usually a range of products is required and the buyer may prefer to deal
with only one supplier;
 A high standard of product is required;
 Usually an informal contract which can be varied at short notice
resulting in some production unsold;
Dealers processors exporters;
There are usually dealers in any area willing to buy
produce directly from farmers. These may be
merchants who sell to exporters or larger institutional
buyers or to urban markets. In some cases they may be
acting as agents for a processor.
Advantages:-

produce can be delivered locally so transport is less;

larger volumes can be sold;
you do not have to spend time in marketing ;
production can be of only one or a few commodities;

Disadvantages:-
price will be less than direct sales to consumers as the
dealer’s profit margin and handling and transport costs
will be reflected in lower prices offered;
Urban markets (using agents merchants or
auction);
Urban markets in larger centres mainly provide for the
marketing of vegetables and fruit although some allow
the sale of some other products e.g. eggs, fish etc.
Urban markets may be:
Retail markets selling directly in smaller lots to
consumers.
Wholesale markets.
Advantages of urban markets:

Farmers and farmer groups can take advantage of

higher prices in times of short supply, if they have
produce available.
 The market is able to market large quantities of
farmers’ produce.
 The farmers can employ the services of an agent to
perform the task of marketing.
Disadvantages of urban marketing:

Markets are often far from the point of production.

To get the right price, the time of harvesting is critical.
Quality, packaging and presentation are very
important and produce must conform to accepted
grade and packaging standards.

LABORARE EST ORARE
TO WORK IS TO PRAY.
THERE IS HONOR IN
MANUAL LABOUR