MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING NHA TRANG UNIVERSITY Institute of Aquaculture Fidele KAMPAYANA 54CH345 Tilapia cage culture in Rwanda: Current status and prospects of future development Master’s Thesis Nha Trang, July 2014 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING NHA TRANG UNIVERSITY Institute of Aquaculture Fidele KAMPAYANA 54CH345 Tilapia cage culture in Rwanda: Current status and prospects of future development Thesis for partial fulfillment of Master of Science in Aquaculture FIELD CODE: 60620301 Supervisor: Le, Minh Hoang Ph.D Nha Trang University/ Vietnam Co-supervisor: Nguyen Tan Sy Ph.D Nha Trang University/ Vietnam NTU, July 2014 i Declaration I hereby declare that this is my original work and has not been produced elsewhere for the award of a Masters in Aquaculture Science Where other people’s ideas have been used, they have duly been acknowledged Fidele KAMPAYANA ii Acknowledgement For this opportunity I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those that supported me from the start of this thesis until the last minute Surely, without your contributions, this research could not be accomplished So, I say thank you to my supervisors, Le Minh Hoang, Ph.D Lecturer in Nha Trang University and Sy Nguyen Tan Ph.D, the Vice Director of Aquaculture Institute in Nha Trang University/Vietnam for their advice and thoughtful contributions towards the accomplishment of this thesis I must admit that with their guidance, writing this thesis was made much easier The Director of Aquaculture Institute in Nha Trang University and particularly all lecturers of Aquaculture Master Class for their timely advice and encouragement In a special way I thank the Director General of RAB/MINAGRI and particularly the Fisheries and Aquaculture Program Manager, Dr Wilson RUTAGANIRA for accepting me into their group members and for providing me all facilities and services needed for this research I am grateful to all Fisheries and Aquaculture Officials in lakes Burera, Kivu, Muhazi and Ruhondo for accepting to work closely with me during my fieldwork Thank you for the reports and facilities you rendered I also acknowledge the support got from all respondents of this survey and interviews Thanks for the information, data and facilities you provided I wish to say “Com on” to all Vietnamese comrades for the comfortable accommodation offered to me during my stay in their lovely country “Viet Nam” and my fellow course mates who were supportive as we struggled together I also acknowledge the moral support of my family members, friends and relatives both in Rwanda and in Vietnam Finally, the AfDB through SFAR education loan fund for the scholarship awarded for my Master courses Fidele KAMPAYANA iii Dedication I dedicate this thesis to my last born daughter IZERE IGENA Darlene, my first son IZERE IGABA Dharna and my beloved UWUMUKIZA Clarisse; mother of my two children iv Table of contents Page Declaration I Acknowledgement ii Dedication iii Table of contents iv Abstract vii List of acronyms viii List of graphs, figures and pictures IX List of tables X INTRODUCTION Background information Statement of the problem Justification of the study Objectives of the study Hypotheses Main parts of the thesis CHAPTER 1: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND CAGE CULTURE CONCEPTS 1.1 Historical and global overview of fish cage culture 1.2 Advantages and disadvantages of cage culture 1.2.1 Advantages 1.2.2 Disadvantages 1.3 Tilapia; Cage cultured species of choice v 1.4 Cage design and construction 10 1.4.1 Classification of cage design and construction 10 1.4.2 Components of cage design and construction 12 1.4.3 Site selection and carrying capacity of cage culture 13 1.4.4 Classification of cage culture according to different management systems 16 1.5 Management practices of fish cage culture 17 1.5.1 Fish seed and stocking practices 17 1.5.2 Feeds and Feeding 19 1.5.3 Stock sampling 21 1.5.4 Harvesting 21 1.5.5 Cage maintenance and monitoring 22 1.5.6 Record keeping 22 1.6 Cage culture economics 23 1.6.1 Production costs 23 1.6.2 Returns 24 1.6.3 Break-even price 25 1.6.4 Market identification 25 CHAPTER 2: STUDY DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 26 2.1 Scope and duration of the study 28 2.2 Survey 28 2.3 Interviews 29 2.4 Field studies and personal observations 29 2.5 Data analysis 29 CHAPTER 3: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 30 3.1 Characteristics of the study area 30 3.1.1 Characteristics of Rwanda 30 3.1.2 Characteristics of the potential zones for tilapia cage culture 31 3.2 Current status of Tilapia cage culture in Rwanda 36 3.2.1 Characteristics of tilapia cage operators 36 3.2.2 Characteristics of Tilapia cage farms 40 3.2.3 Management practices 45 vi 3.2.3.1 Site selection and environmental monitoring 45 3.2.3.2 Seed supply and stocking practices 47 3.2.3.3 Cage inspection and maintenance 50 3.2.3.4 Stock sampling and fish manipulations 51 3.2.3.5 Feed supply and feeding practices 53 3.2.3.6 Harvesting practices and marketing system of harvested fish 55 3.2.3.7 Economic analysis of the current tilapia cage production in Rwanda 57 3.3 Perception of cage operators on the current and future prospects of tilapia cage culture industry 60 3.3.1 Appreciation of current productivity of tilapia cage culture 60 3.3.2 Constraints and problems of current tilapia cage culture in Rwanda 61 3.3.3 Needs for future development of Tilapia cage culture in Rwanda 64 CHAPTER 4: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 67 4.1 Conclusion 67 4.2 Recommendations for prospects of future development of tilapia cage industry 67 References 69 Appendices I vii Abstract The present study was conducted in order to contribute to the future development of tilapia cage culture industry in Rwanda by reviewing the current production system and its constraints and then propose possible solutions to overcome them In order to obtain the results of this research, 52 formal questionnaires have been personally administrated to 52 tilapia cage operators (total population) In addition to the formal questionnaire, 28 in-depth interviews have been conducted with potential key informants in order to have insight into the constraints of tilapia aquaculture development as well as the solutions that can be considered to promote the future commercial tilapia cage aquaculture adoption in Rwanda The findings of this study revealed that 52 tilapia cage operators are located in four lakes (Kivu, Ruhondo, Burera and Muhazi) and grouped into 23 tilapia cage-based parks A total of 656 floating cages were numbered in all parks; 80.5% of them were not restocked (empty cages) due to many reasons provided by the operators such as lack of funds to buy feed, lack of fingerlings and fear of high mortality rate The stocking density by most of the operators was ranged between 1,500 to 2,000 tilapia fingerlings of 10 to 50 g average weight per cage of 8m3 The harvest size of fish after to months of grow out was approximated by most of the operators at fish per kg (equivalent to 250g average weight) During culture period, fish were fed twice or thrice a day with imported floating pellet of 25 to 35% of protein content The shortage of tilapia fingerlings, high cost of quality feed and high mortality rate of fish were the major factors that affected current tilapia cage production Most of the operators did not undertake more innovative and adequate management practices such as optimum stocking, stock manipulations, sexing and grading, disease control and prevention, records keeping on inputs and outputs of the cage culture operations due to lack of knowledge and know-how skills However, seed and feed production at farm and local levels, training and extension program based on research and technological innovation were highly suggested by most of the operators as main ways towards sustainable development of tilapia cage culture industry in Rwanda viii List of acronyms AfDB: African Development Bank BCEOM: Central Bureau for Overseas Equipments Studies (Bureau Central d’Etudes pour les Equipements d’Outre Mer) BMPs: Best Management Practices DO: Dissolved Oxygen DVO: District Veterinary Officer EAC: East African Community EIA: Environmental Impact Assessment FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations FCR: Feed Conversion Ratio GoR: Government of Rwanda IFOM: International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements LVHD: Low Volume High Density MINAGRI: Ministry of Agriculture and Animals Resources MST: Mixed Sex Tilapia NGO: Non Government Organization NTU: Nha Trang University PAIGELAC: Projet d’Appui l’Aménagement Intérgé et la Gestion des Lacs Interieurs (Inland Lakes Integrated Development and Management Support Project) RAB: Rwanda Agriculture Board RAS: Recirculation Aquaculture System SFAR: Student Financing Agency for Rwanda SRT: Sex Reversed Tilapia VTS: Vocational Training School 63 These results corroborate with the opinions of Halwart and Moehl [11] and Halwart, et al [12] saying that feed and seed quality and availability are the major constraints for cage aquaculture development in sub-Saharan Africa Even though, most of the pioneer operators undertook a startup training, a lack of knowledge and hands-on skills among cage owners, technicians and man-powers was another major constraints reported by most of the current cage operators (24.5% of the total responses) A lack innovative and adequate management practices among tilapia cage operators was somehow attributed to lack of know-how skills In addition to this, the extension service was also insufficient due to lack of trained technicians working closely with tilapia operators at farm level Both bad weather and natural calamities sporadically occurred (showed in Figure 3.12) were another problem contributed to high mortality and poor growth of caged fish The natural calamities related to the volcanoes activities, were frequently reported in lakes Burera, Ruhondo and Kivu which have an interconnection with the northern volcanoes The cage operators from these lakes were concerned with occasionally upwelling of natural gases (methane and sulfur compound) which lower the DO in the upper layers of the lake The volcanic region is known to be too cold During cold seasons, also called bad weather by most of the tilapia farmers in the regions, the optimum temperature falls below 10oC, temperature in which tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) could not grow In general, tilapia cage operators in all lakes were uncommonly bothered by windy and heavy rains which caused erosion that lead to the ruins of some cages and fish stress Poaching was another serious problem reported by few cage operators (3.8% of total responses) who were not able to take carefully control and surveillance of their cage farms Theft was constantly done either by some cooperative members or by other fishermen operating in the same lake due social conflicts Lack of capital investment due to difficulty to get credit and low or limited government support was also another limitation to the new tilapia cage adopters Though, some new 64 cage operators also reported the problems emanating from the cease of free inputs supply subsidized and injected by PAIGELAC project to the pioneer operators At the time of the survey, there was any NGO or other government project which has in its priority the aquaculture sector For example, on the support of PAIGELAC project some operators have constructed a big number of cages and it was observed that they could not manage them without any other support Lack of funds also accounted for the current cage operators to restock their cages and for the new investors to start the business in seed and feed production From different opinions, market was not a major constraint but an intensive tilapia production system limited only to local or farm gate market could not boost the development of commercial tilapia cage production 3.3.3 Needs for future development of Tilapia cage culture in Rwanda Because of aquaculture is a new sector which is being developed in Rwanda and for that many problems are still common among both fish ponds and cages based producers All tilapia producers interviewed have reported that without continuous support either Government or NGOs, they not believe to achieve, on their own a sustainable development of tilapia industry While tilapia cage culture is a new technology in Rwanda, the dependence of early operators to outside supports and interventions were still remarkable However, in addition to the information provided by key informants, current cage operators were also asked their suggested solutions to the current constraints of tilapia cage culture in Rwanda The percentages showed in figure 3.15 below are based on the multiple responses provided by 52 respondents 65 Credit system Suggested solutions Cage farm surveillance and control Capacity building of cage operators… Suitable production system Research and technological innovations Cage operator's trainings Extension services at farm level Local feed manufacturers and suppliers Local seed producers and suppliers 10 15 20 25 30 Frequency (%) Figure 3.15 : Solutions suggested for the current constraints of tilapia cage culture by 52 tilapia cage operation in Rwanda, 2014 In one hand, the respondents from all lakes highly suggested local seed production and supply (26.1% of the total responses) Local seed production and supply can be achieved through the establishment of local satellites hatcheries for seed multiplication and collection centres to support Kigembe hatchery In the other hand, quality feed locally manufactured was mostly suggested (26.1% of the total responses) by all tilapia cage operators The development of commercial cage culture depends on the production and commercial quality fish feed The information from interviews revealed that two larger scale feed manufacturers were being established at the time of the survey by the private companies Locally produced floating feed are expected to be cheaper especially if local ingredients are used and its quality and price will need to be verified in the future studies before being ascribed 66 The intensive trainings aimed to increase the know-how skills of tilapia cage operators were also mostly wished (26.1% of total responses) by new cage operators Since tilapia cage culture is a new industry underway of adoption with new non experienced and unskilled operators, cage culture system demonstrations and illustrations will be more effective Special trainings must be given to all persons involved in such as cage owners, technicians and labors in specific areas such as cage design and construction, cages and nets maintenance, seed production and handling, fish disease and control, BMPs, harvesting and post-harvest techniques, environmental assessment and management, etc After these three most suggested solutions by all tilapia cage operators, the other various solutions mostly reported by different stakeholders and key informants could not be deliberately ignored because their contribution to the fullness of the sector development is also significant Therefore, some of them are linked to the others A development of a suitable production system was suggested by some of the tilapia operators from all lakes For instance, an integrated hatchery-nursery-grow out system could be developed by some of the operators especially those who are managing large cage farm Also, a specialized extension service built on aquaculture research program and technological innovations was mostly needs by some operators Credit system was also wished by some investors All required tilapia cage culture inputs can be provided to farmers on loan agreement which will be paid back on production RAB/MINAGRI could link and stand for all cage operators to the financial institutions Constant surveillance and control is the only one solution to the thieves and other wrong doers in the cage farms A good organization of tilapia cage operators within cage-based park through Cage Development Committees will help to monitor and manage the system 67 CHAPTER 4: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 4.1 Conclusion The results from this research permitted the confirmation of two hypotheses anticipated and no doubt to conclude that the current production system could not lead to profit maximization The results of previous culture system have also contributed to the failure of entirely expansion of tilapia cage culture in all potential zones of Rwanda The observed and reported big loss of fish, fish escape, high mortality rate cases and small size of fish at harvest are the consequence of the absence of innovative and adequate management practices in tilapia cage farm A lack of innovative and adequate management practices were significantly correlated with the lack of knowledge or knowhow skills among the currents tilapia cage operators Unless improved management and measures are taken; a lack of quality inputs (seed and feed), lack of BMPs application and high mortality rate of fingerlings will continue to hold back the performance of tilapia cage culture in Rwanda 4.2 Recommendations for prospects of future development of tilapia cage industry Given the above current situation of tilapia cage culture, we suggest for future development the following:  As it is still at the beginning, with poor knowledge and low basic infrastructures such as hatcheries, etc tilapia cage culture system would be better implemented for smallscale farms  Innovative and adequate management practices would be applied based on research and extension services to improve the situation This approach will allow farmers to minimize losses and maximize profit 68  Further researches would be conducted on the following subjects:  Determination of the optimum cage volume, optimum stocking density and LVHD system suitable to local condition,  Study on feed utilization and its effect on fish growth and feed conversion ratio  Evaluation of biological 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Dagupan City, Philippines 36 Ross, L.G., Telfer, T.C., Falconer, L., Soto, D and Aguilar-Manjarrez, J., eds (2013), Site selection and carrying capacities for inland and coastal aquaculture., FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Proceedings No 21 Rome, FAO, FAO/Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Expert Workshop, 6-8 December 2010 Stirling, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland., 282 37 Sena De Silva, S., ed (2001), Reservoir and culture-based fisheries: Biology and Management., ACIAR Proceedings No 98, Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Bangkok, Thailand from 15-18 February 2000., 384 38 Thoms, A (1989), "Pointers to safer moorings.", Fish Farmer 12(3), pp 27-28 39 Woods, P and Masser, P.M (2009), "Cage Culture: Harvesting and Economics", SRAC Publication No 166, p I Appendices Appendix 1: Structured questionnaire used for the survey on “Tilapia cage culture in Rwanda: Current status and prospects of future development” I 1.1 Background information on cage culture operators Type of operator’s organization: a) Cooperative, b) Domestic company/Enterprise, c) Individual or own operator 1.2 Gender: a) Male, b) Female 1.3 Age: a) Below 30, b) 30 to 39, c) 40 to 49, d) 50 to 59, e) 60 and above 1.4 Educational attainment: a) Elementary, b) Technical and vocational trainings, c) High school, d) University 1.5 What is your main occupation? a) cage culture, b) Fishing activities, c) Agriculture, d) Trades/ commerce e) Specify other 1.6 How long have you been in aquaculture activities? a) Less than year, b) to years, c) to years, d) More than years 1.7 Have you attended some training related to fish farming activities? a) Yes, b) Not 1.8 If yes, are the trainings sufficient? a) Yes, b) Not 1.9 Why did you adopt Tilapia cage culture? a) Tilapia is a high value fish species, b) It is profitable business, c) available supports, d) wanted to test whether Tilapia cage culture is profitable e) specify other reason 1.10 What is the size of your cages farm? a)