The Determinants of Performance in Semi Intensive Tilapia Aquaculture Projects in Dar Es Salaam

Enterprise budget, breakeven and sensitivity analyses were conducted in selected fish farms in Dar es salaam to assess the determinants of performance in Semi Intensive Tilapia Aquaculture (SITA) projects. Field data was collected using structured questionnaires, checklists and face to face interviewing and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The research findings revealed that the feed prices, survival rate, and farm size have a significant effect on performance of SITA projects and therefore should be optimized in order to attain a profitable and sustainable SITA projects. Higher feed prices decreases net returns and increases the breakeven price per kilogram. It was also evidenced that, the higher the survival rate the higher the net returns and the lower the breakeven prices per kilogram. Also the farmers are advised to ensure that they develop as bigger farms as possible as the farm size increases, the net returns per cubic meter increases and breakeven price above total cost decreases. The study recommends that SITA farmers should conduct a detailed financial plan prior to establishing SITA projects, farmers should establish good quality fish feeds sources with reasonable prices prior to establishment of the farm, farmers should be conversant of all the biological aspects of tilapia farming in order to increase survival rate of his/her stock and lastly farmers should locate the farm in the area where there is a potential of enlarging his/her farm in future.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

The Open University of Tanzania

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Mwenesi, Niza Leonard

• 330 Economics

Language dc:language

en