WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • MARCH 2016 43 Many farmers were disappointed by fish crops they harvested due to the varying information on stocking densities and sizes from the different training programs they had attended. Most farmers do not know how long they should rear each fish species (tilapia and catfish), what should be done prior to harvesting, when they should stop feeding before harvesting, how to drain and seine ponds, and time of the day they should have the harvest. Some farmers do not have nets or holding tanks so they find it challenging to go into the ponds at harvest time. They fear their lives are in danger, believing that pond water has many organisms that can bite and harm them. Feed Management. Feed availability, quality of feeds, feeding rates and acceptable feed conversion ratios remain major constraints for small-scale farmers in Uganda. Farmers want to know how to acquire good quality feeds, how much should be fed, when to feed, where to place the feeds and how to make their own feeds. When farmers buy fingerlings from prominent fish farmers nearby, sellers do not provide the necessary information on how to manage and feed fish. Fish farmers noted shortcomings in the quality of feeds sold by fellow farmers and agricultural stores. Fry Production. Fish farmers require information on how to choose, breed, and manage their broodstock. Farmers showed interest in organizing hatcheries and producing fingerlings and in acquiring skills about selection of good brooders, fertilization, incubation and hatching, breeding, fish eggs and fish seed management, sex differentiation, suitable environmental conditions for breeding, stocking density of broodfish, containers to be used, amount of water and oxygen needed, recommended optimum temperature and light for mainly tilapia and catfish production. Most farmers complained about buying fingerlings of poor quality from other fish farmers who do not provide clear information about the parental background of fingerlings. Farmers receive fingerlings without knowing the sex ratio of the lot purchased; farmers want to buy only all-male fingerlings, but sellers give them mixed sexes. Farmers think if necessary training opportunities were made available to them, they could breed their own fish and be in better position to produce good quality seeds. Water Quality Management. Managing water quality is a challenge for fish farmers in Uganda that often limits the success of fish farming enterprises. Small-scale farmers in Uganda often are not aware of the appropriate environmental conditions for the fish species they raise. Most farmers never measure water quality. A few said they determine water temperature by inserting their hands into the pond. Farmers indicated that government and fisheries research institutions have not been helpful in teaching required skills and providing knowledge regarding water quality management. Conclusion The use of mobile phones by fish farmers in Uganda is common. Most farmers use mobile phones to improve social development and livelihoods. Many fish farmers use their mobile phones to acquire technical guidance and communicate with those who provide agricultural inputs and market information, resulting in increased income. Mobile phones increase savings by avoiding unnecessary travel, which increases the ability of farmers to access market prices and take advantage of financial opportunities. Most famers use their mobile phones to communicate with their households. Conversations among family members enable farmers to manage their resources and increase their ability to deal with emergencies (Sife et al. 2010). Access to agricultural information is widespread, but support is needed for disseminating information on market prices and fish production. Currently most farmers depend on word-of-mouth to get information from extension officers and intermediary fish farmers, who are not always available when needed. Farmers also rely on middlemen and friends as sources of information on market prices. Government fisheries officers and aquaculturists are unable to reach all farmers and provide guidance on best farming practices. Ugandan fish farmers lack information due to the communication gap between the information provider and the farmer. Fish farmers prioritize information on market prices, pond management, feed, fry production, water quality management, stocking and harvesting. Although farmers were also interested in information on fish diseases, seed variety, fish species to be cultured, etc., only a few prioritized these. There appears to be substantial potential for reaching smallholder fish farmers in Uganda because fish farmers who participated in the focus group discussions have access to at least one mobile phone. Farmers enjoy the benefits of mobile phones because of the flexibility they offer through voice and text messages. However, factors such as poor network coverage, frequent power outages, lack of calling credit, awareness and promotion has constrained full utilization of the potential use of mobile phones. The study revealed low capacity and usage of mobile phone applications. Using cell phones, given fast growth and expanded connectivity in the country, could boost agricultural development in Uganda, and best opportunities for use should be further explored by government, mobile phone service providers and fisheries research institutions. Access to agricultural information and current market prices can help improve aquaculture productivity in Uganda. Providing timely information about agricultural information and market prices can reduce risks by empowering them to make good decisions. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 44) Figure 3. Meeting at a farmer’s fish pond.
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