Assessing factors affecting smallholder earthen pond fish farming in the varied climates of the Rwenzori Region, Uganda
The impact of climatic variations on the aquaculture yield of tropical mountainous regions is an understudied phenomenon. These regions are subdivided into microclimatic zones that range from polar to tropical climate types. Low biodiversity in Sub-Saharan Africa’s aquaculture restricts the efficien...
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Elsevier
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Aquaculture Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352513425000754 |
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| author | Athanasius Ssekyanzi Joshua Wesana Gilbert Van Stappen Nancy Nevejan |
| author_facet | Athanasius Ssekyanzi Joshua Wesana Gilbert Van Stappen Nancy Nevejan |
| author_sort | Athanasius Ssekyanzi |
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| description | The impact of climatic variations on the aquaculture yield of tropical mountainous regions is an understudied phenomenon. These regions are subdivided into microclimatic zones that range from polar to tropical climate types. Low biodiversity in Sub-Saharan Africa’s aquaculture restricts the efficient use of abundant mountainous water resources, impacting food security and poverty alleviation efforts. This study uses survey data from smallholder fish farms in five districts of Uganda’s Rwenzori region, gridded rainfall and temperature data, and a 0.0083° resolution Köppen-Geiger climate classification map to assess barriers to aquaculture production. It investigates how climatic variations, production methods, and sociodemographic factors influence aquaculture yields. Additionally, it identifies perceived barriers to production. The results show that climatic variations significantly impact fish yields. Fish farms in the tropical savannah climate (Aw) yielded three times more fish than those in the tropical rainforest climate (Af) (reference group) (p < 0.05). Fish yields decreased by half in farms that practiced polyculture compared to monoculture (p < 0.01). Farms that supplemented commercial pellets with locally available products had a three-fold higher fish yield than those relying solely on commercial pellets (p < 0.05). Perceived major challenges include access to technical support services, quality fish feeds, and fingerlings. The results highlight the poor fish yields (10.48 ± 1.16 t/ha/yr) from earthen pond aquaculture in the studied area. Beyond the commonly discussed challenges of aquaculture, microclimates may represent a significant yet overlooked obstacle to the sector’s growth. Consequently, we question the overall suitability of the cultured fish species given the diverse climate types in the Rwenzori region. This study calls for a broader approach to aquaculture that considers unique climatic conditions and diversifies the species cultivated to optimize the use of available resources. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7b58e35f6ead4cd5bcc19330a67dc22c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2352-5134 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Aquaculture Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-7b58e35f6ead4cd5bcc19330a67dc22c2025-08-20T02:59:52ZengElsevierAquaculture Reports2352-51342025-04-014110268910.1016/j.aqrep.2025.102689Assessing factors affecting smallholder earthen pond fish farming in the varied climates of the Rwenzori Region, UgandaAthanasius Ssekyanzi0Joshua Wesana1Gilbert Van Stappen2Nancy Nevejan3Laboratory of Aquaculture & Artemia Reference Center, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, Gent B-9000, Belgium; Department of Crop & Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Mountains of the Moon University, Fort Portal P.O. Box 367, Uganda; Corresponding author at: Laboratory of Aquaculture & Artemia Reference Center, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, Gent B-9000, Belgium.Department of Crop & Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Mountains of the Moon University, Fort Portal P.O. Box 367, Uganda; Department of Agriculture Economics, Gent University, Coupure links 653, Gent B-9000, BelgiumLaboratory of Aquaculture & Artemia Reference Center, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, Gent B-9000, BelgiumLaboratory of Aquaculture & Artemia Reference Center, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, Gent B-9000, BelgiumThe impact of climatic variations on the aquaculture yield of tropical mountainous regions is an understudied phenomenon. These regions are subdivided into microclimatic zones that range from polar to tropical climate types. Low biodiversity in Sub-Saharan Africa’s aquaculture restricts the efficient use of abundant mountainous water resources, impacting food security and poverty alleviation efforts. This study uses survey data from smallholder fish farms in five districts of Uganda’s Rwenzori region, gridded rainfall and temperature data, and a 0.0083° resolution Köppen-Geiger climate classification map to assess barriers to aquaculture production. It investigates how climatic variations, production methods, and sociodemographic factors influence aquaculture yields. Additionally, it identifies perceived barriers to production. The results show that climatic variations significantly impact fish yields. Fish farms in the tropical savannah climate (Aw) yielded three times more fish than those in the tropical rainforest climate (Af) (reference group) (p < 0.05). Fish yields decreased by half in farms that practiced polyculture compared to monoculture (p < 0.01). Farms that supplemented commercial pellets with locally available products had a three-fold higher fish yield than those relying solely on commercial pellets (p < 0.05). Perceived major challenges include access to technical support services, quality fish feeds, and fingerlings. The results highlight the poor fish yields (10.48 ± 1.16 t/ha/yr) from earthen pond aquaculture in the studied area. Beyond the commonly discussed challenges of aquaculture, microclimates may represent a significant yet overlooked obstacle to the sector’s growth. Consequently, we question the overall suitability of the cultured fish species given the diverse climate types in the Rwenzori region. This study calls for a broader approach to aquaculture that considers unique climatic conditions and diversifies the species cultivated to optimize the use of available resources.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352513425000754MountainousMicroclimatesAquacultureSub-Sahara AfricaTemperaturePrecipitation |
| spellingShingle | Athanasius Ssekyanzi Joshua Wesana Gilbert Van Stappen Nancy Nevejan Assessing factors affecting smallholder earthen pond fish farming in the varied climates of the Rwenzori Region, Uganda Aquaculture Reports Mountainous Microclimates Aquaculture Sub-Sahara Africa Temperature Precipitation |
| title | Assessing factors affecting smallholder earthen pond fish farming in the varied climates of the Rwenzori Region, Uganda |
| title_full | Assessing factors affecting smallholder earthen pond fish farming in the varied climates of the Rwenzori Region, Uganda |
| title_fullStr | Assessing factors affecting smallholder earthen pond fish farming in the varied climates of the Rwenzori Region, Uganda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing factors affecting smallholder earthen pond fish farming in the varied climates of the Rwenzori Region, Uganda |
| title_short | Assessing factors affecting smallholder earthen pond fish farming in the varied climates of the Rwenzori Region, Uganda |
| title_sort | assessing factors affecting smallholder earthen pond fish farming in the varied climates of the rwenzori region uganda |
| topic | Mountainous Microclimates Aquaculture Sub-Sahara Africa Temperature Precipitation |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352513425000754 |
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