TOWARDS A CHARACTERIZATION OF SMALL-SCALE AQUACULTURE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: A LIVELIHOOD ANALYSIS OF SMALLHOLDER FISH FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN ZAMBIA

Aquaculture is growing in sub-Saharan Africa. Evidence suggests that increased commercialization; value chain upgrading and market-led developments can provide opportunities for smallholders to enter the sector. The impact of these developments on "small-scale" aquaculture is not well understood. A definition and typology of these farmers is still fundamentally missing for the sub-Saharan African context. Less is known on the role that fish farming plays in the livelihoods of smallholders and the contribution it can have on income and food security.

A quantitative livelihood analysis of 151 smallholder farmers in Zambia, including an asset-based index of the five fundamental capitals, reveals the diverse aquaculture landscape in Zambia, divided by species restrictions and commercial hotspots. The analysis shows a heterogeneous sector of farmers that are divided along production, wealth, gender, ethnic, and geographic lines, amongst many others. Access to financial and physical capital seems to be more decisive than human or social capital. Other factors, such as location, can impact the profitability, inclusivity and sustainability of farming systems, especially between the mostly rural, subsistence-based north and the increasingly commercial south of the country. Qualitative interviews with farmers reveal how aquaculture is located within the larger livelihood strategies and agricultural plans of households.

This analysis surfaces the differences between farmers who produce fish as a secondary income-generating activity, mostly for subsistence purposes, and those that produce as "aquapreneurs" for a rapidly growing and competitive value chain. This requires us to rethink what is meant by "small-scale aquaculture" in Zambia. The study provides a unique perspective on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, which enables stakeholders such as governments, private actors and development agencies, to characterize and better engage with the sector.