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K. Sullivan, A.J. Mmochi and B. Crawford. 2007. An Economic Analysis of Milkfish Farming in Tanzania: Potential for Economic Development and Policy Issues. The Sustainable Coastal Communities and Ecosystems Program. Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island, the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association, and the Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam. 23p |
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Milkfish culture has been practiced for over a hundred years in Asia, particularly in the Philippines, Indonesia, and China but it is just beginning to become a mariculture activity in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) Region. For instance, Tanzania is pioneering commercial and backyard milkfish farming and is learning from experiences in Asia. There have already been a number of attempts at experimental and pilot stages to culture milkfish in Tanzania (Dubi et al. 2004). A number of academic institutions are involved in milkfish farming experiments. The Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) at the University of Dar es Salaam for example has been involved in milkfish pond aquaculture consistently since 1996 (Mmochi et al. 2005). However, milkfish farming has not taken off on a commercial scale by private operators for several reasons, including a need for more information on the economic and marketing aspects of milkfish farming and a lack of farm level trials of practical rearing methods and pond designs conducive to commercial production. Additionally, careful attention must be given to pond construction and management, which if not done properly can constrain the ability to produce viable milkfish crops and some of the initial experimental trials previously conducted did not use commercial pond designs or were improperly built.
However, Tanzania’s rural coastal communities face many economic development challenges with few alternatives readily apparent. Development of small-scale mariculture has been recommended as one way to improve the quality of life for coastal Tanzanians by increasing employment, household incomes, and food security (Rice et al. 2006). Milkfish (Chanos chanos) is native to Tanzania and is found in the wild but until only recently has its culture been attempted, based on adapting longstanding Asian practices to Tanzania. For instance, in Unguja Island there are several small ponds in Makoba owned by the Prisons Department. Two farmers in Pemba Island have been culturing milkfish and mullet for the last ten years and several farmers have been assisted by the Sustainable Costal Communities and Ecosystems (SUCCESS) Program – Mr. Mushi in Bagamoyo, who has been operating for several years, Mr. Kirago and Mkadam in Mpafu, Mkuranga who have harvested at least twice before their ponds were washed out by extreme high tides, and a community group in Byuni village of Pangani. There are also 11 groups of people who own ponds in Mtwara, one pond in Kilwa and Rufiji and one in Machui, Tanga who have harvested at least once. There are several other pond sites in different stages of construction and some that have been declared a failure due to poor siting and construction.
Recent mainland trials conducted by the SUCCESS Program have proven ponds can be built in barren salt pan areas with a harvest after just six months of over 1 MT of fish per hectare and revenues close to US$ 2000. SUCCESS household surveys show median coastal household incomes of approximately $1000/year. Thus, a one hectare pond could double household income. Over 50,000 hectares of saline areas hold potential as sites for milkfish ponds, making the long term income potential nationally significant. Within a decade or so, increases in high quality protein food supply could easily reach 10,000 MT or more annually, employing thousands of persons, increasing incomes of thousands of coastal households and generating over US$ 20 million annually in crop value. In light of the opportunity that milkfish farming presents, in 2005 through 2006, the SUCCESS Program constructed commercial style milkfish ponds and conducted production trials in cooperation with several owners of salt farms in Mkuranga, Bagamoyo and with a community group in Pangani. |
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