Optimization of nile tilapia production in ponds based on improved farm management practices in rwanda

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING NHA TRANG UNIVERSITY JEAN CLAUDE NDORIMANA OPTIMIZATION OF NILE TILAPIA PRODUCTION IN PONDS BASED ON IMPROVED FARM MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN RWANDA MASTER’S THESIS Nha Trang, July 2014 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING NHA TRANG UNIVERSITY JEAN CLAUDE NDORIMANA OPTIMIZATION OF NILE TILAPIA PRODUCTION IN PONDS BASED ON IMPROVED FARM MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN RWANDA. Master’s Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of a Master of Science in Aquaculture FIELD’S CODE: 60620301 Supervisors: Pham Quoc Hung, PhD Nguyen Van Tien, PhD Nha Trang, July 2014 i DECLARATION I hereby confirm that I am the sole author of this thesis and it has not been submitted in part or in whole in regard to any other academic qualification. Name: Jean Claude Ndorimana Signature: Date: July 2014 Matriculation Number: 54CH346 ii DEDICATION I dedicate this work to my late parents, brother and sisters. Your efforts and sacrifices are behind everything achieved. You have been and will be in my heart; To my beloved wife Triphine Niragire, your unfailing love and support are always a source of my success; To my lovely children Arnaud Shema Ruboneka and Armelle Ineza Sheja, your birth was a source of strength and happiness for our family; To my Uncle’s Family Fidèle Rwamuhizi, my Sisters Yvonne Mukandagano and Jeannette Kagaga for their love and support a long my studies. I also dedicate this work to all my friends and relatives. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT To God be glory for His sustenance and strength throughout my studies. I am thankful to my advisors Dr. Pham Quoc Hung and Dr. Nguyen Van Tien for their time, encouragement and direction towards the success of this study. A debt of gratitude is also owed to all my lecturers at the Institute of Aquaculture, Foreign Affairs Department at Nha Trang University for providing a good atmosphere and support throughout my studies. I address special thanks to all colleagues of Aquaculture Master’s Programme students for their friendship and company. I am grateful to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Rwanda Agriculture Board Authorities for the considerable support. I owe thanks to especially Dr Wilson Rutaganira and Kigembe Fish Centre Technical and Management Team for their support, collaboration and assistance. I thank each and every one who helped me to accomplish this task. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iii TABLE OF CONTENTS iv LIST OF TABLES viii LIST OF FIGURES ix LIST OF ACRONYMS x ABSTRACT xi INTRODUCTION 1 1. Back ground 1 2. Purpose 3 3. Objectives of the study: 4 3.1. Main objective 4 3.2. Specific objectives 4 4. Research questions 4 5. Significance of the study 4 6. Scope of the study 5 CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW 5 1.1. The biology of Tilapia 6 1.1.1. Taxonomy of Tilapia 6 1.1.2. History and origin of Tilapia 8 1.1.3. General characteristics 8 1.1.3.1. Diagnostic Features 8 v 1.1.3.2. Habitat and Biology 9 1.1.4. Geographical distribution of Tilapia 10 1.1.4.1. World Tilapia production 10 1.1.4.2. Africa Tilapia production 12 1.1.4.3. Rwanda Tilapia production 13 1.2. Fish farming systems 16 1.2.1. Extensive fish farming systems 16 1.2.2. Semi-intensive fish farming systems 16 1.2.3. Intensive Fish farming systems 17 1.2.4. Integrated fish farming 17 1.3. Pond management systems 17 1.3.1. Pond management (preparation prior to stocking, routine management of water quality after stocking) 17 1.3.2. Seed production (Breeding characteristics) 17 1.3.3. Feed and feeding 18 1.3.3.1. Feeds 18 1.3.3.1.1. Natural foods 18 1.3.3.1.2. Artificial feeds 18 1.3.3.2. Feeding 19 1.3.4. Fish diseases and their control 20 1.3.4.1. Types of fish diseases 20 1.3.4.2. Fish health management 21 CHAPTER 2. MATERIAL AND METHODS 24 2.1. Experimental design 24 vi 2.2. Methodology 25 2.2.1. Definition of key terms 27 2.2.1.1. Growth parameters 27 2.2.1.2. Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) 28 2.3. Data collection 28 2.4. Data analysis 28 CHAPTER 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 29 3.1. Brief geographical description of Rwanda 29 3.1.1. Climate 29 3.1.2. Demographics 30 3.2. Study area 30 3.2.1. Biophysical environment 30 3.2.1.1. Terrain and topography 30 3.2.1.2. Rainfall and sunstroke 31 3.3. RESULTS PRESENTATION 31 3.3.1. Monitoring of water quality parameters 31 3.3.2. Fish production parameters 32 3.3.2.1. Fish production parameters recorded 32 3.3.2.2. Fish survival, growth and feed utilization efficiency output 35 3.3.3. Economic analysis of Nile Tilapia fish pond production 37 3.4. DISCUSSION OF RESULTS 38 CHAPTER 4: CONCLUSION AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES 45 4.1. Conclusion 45 vii 4.2. Recommendations for further research 45 REFERENCES 47 viii LIST OF TABLES Table 1.1. Distinguishing features of the three main farmed species 7 Table 3.1: Water quality parameters recorded during the experiment 32 Table 3.2: Production parameters recorded after 1 month (15 th February 2014) 33 Table 3.3: Production parameters recorded after 2 months (15 th March 2014) 33 Table 3.4: Production parameters recorded after 3 months (15 th April 2014) 34 Table 3.5: Production parameters recorded after 4 months (15 th May 2014) 34 Table 3.6: The mean value of SR, WG, SGR and FCR 35 Table 3.7: Comparison of economic analysis between improved farm management and farmers’ management practices. 37 [...]... was aimed at optimizing the Nile Tilapia production in ponds based on improved farm management practices in Rwanda Understanding improved farm management practices for the maximization of production will help all farmers and investors in fish farming in Rwanda to change their farming techniques and adopt the improved ones The information generated will help extensionists in fish farming and also provide... importance of applying improved farm management practices 4 Research questions 1 Would the application of improved farm management practices contribute to the optimization of Nile Tilapia production compared to the traditional farmers’ practices? 2 Is there any difference in the production cost if the improved farm management practices are applied rather than the routine farmers’ practices? 5 Significance of. .. was to optimize the Nile Tilapia production in ponds based on improved farm management practices in Rwanda An experiment was carried out at Kigembe National Fish Centre in Rwanda whereby six ponds of 53 m2 each were prepared and stocked with all males Nile Tilapia fingerlings of an average weight of 10g Three treatments (2 fingerlings/m2, 4 fingerlings/m2 and 6 fingerlings/m2) with one replicate each... study: 3.1 Main objective To optimize the Nile Tilapia production in ponds based on improved farm management practices in Rwanda 3.2 Specific objectives The specific objectives of this study will be to: 1 Optimize the Nile Tilapia yield through improved farm management practices; 2 To use effectively the farming inputs while increasing the production; 3 Demonstrate to farmers and other interested investors... current production (RAB 2013) Investors are still reluctant to get involved in aquaculture activities as many trials of fish production in ponds were conducted with the great sponsorship from the Government; the present study intends to optimize Tilapia production in ponds based on improved farm management practices in Rwanda 3 The results from this study will help all actors in fish farming to know the... research work 5 6 Scope of the study The study was carried out over a period of six months from January to June 2014 at Kigembe National Fish Centre of Rwanda focusing on improving pond management practices such as good feeding, good fertilisation, control of predators, control of water parameter and regular control of fish diseases for the optimization of the Nile Tilapia production in ponds 6 CHAPTER 1:... development, considering also the market for fisheries products available in the Country and even in the region, but people are still relying on traditional subsistence farming characterized with low inputs and low output as well as poor management The purpose of this research is to optimize the Nile Tilapia production in ponds based on improved farm management practices in Rwanda 4 3 Objectives of the study:... 1.2.3 Intensive Fish farming systems ensure total control over the production cycle An example of intensive fish production systems is the re-circulatory systems in which water is used over and over Cage and pond culture can also be intensive depending on the stocking densities Intensive fish farming demands total provision of inputs such as feed, control of reproduction, larval rearing, control of fish... launched with aim of: a) Reinforcement of Governmental Fish Stations in order to produce fish seeds; 15 b) Fish farming extension; c) Training of Fish Farmers; d) Introduction of integrated fish farming system This Programme was supported by the PPN Project (Projet Pisciculture Nationale) financed by USAID in 1981 The achievements of this Project: construction of 3,896 fish ponds with 127.72 ha, their... rehabilitating existing ponds, creating new ones and setting up demonstration Tilapia production cages The Government has constructed also a National Hatchery with the capacity of providing 5 million quality Tilapia fingerlings per year and satisfy the current need in seeds for the whole Country At the same time, it interested and sensitized the private sector to invest in aquaculture (intensive fish production, . production in ponds based on improved farm management practices in Rwanda. Understanding improved farm management practices for the maximization of production will help all farmers and investors in. MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING NHA TRANG UNIVERSITY JEAN CLAUDE NDORIMANA OPTIMIZATION OF NILE TILAPIA PRODUCTION IN PONDS BASED ON IMPROVED FARM MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN RWANDA. . MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING NHA TRANG UNIVERSITY JEAN CLAUDE NDORIMANA OPTIMIZATION OF NILE TILAPIA PRODUCTION IN PONDS BASED ON IMPROVED FARM MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN RWANDA