Economic and social aspects of aquaculture in Upper Zambezi Watershed, Zambia (integrated)

Šimon Šimeček

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

Aquaculture is an important industry in Zambia, contributing to economic development, food security and employment in the country. Recently, there has been a significant increase in aquaculture production, although its full potential is still far from being used. The Zambian government is therefore trying to make the industry a more viable business to expand its production. With the help of government and donor programs that have sustained large-scale aquaculture systems, Zambia has seen market-driven capital expenditures that have enabled remarkable increases in production. Investment in intensive cage and pond aquaculture, mostly non-native species of tilapia, which now account for most of the annual production, characterizes the emerging commercial industry. This work focuses on the Western Zambia region where aquaculture has potential due to the Zambezi River water resources. The thesis is focused on the comparison of the price return of the construction of natural and dam liner ponds and shows the time period of their price return. The thesis focuses on farmers' earnings in case of sales to neighbours, resellers, restaurants or by selling dried fish. The thesis calculates the total costs of building a natural and dam liner pond.

Keywords

cost-benefit, adoption, integrated farming, productivity, ponds, Zambia

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 20. 4. 2024

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 29. 5. 2024
• Supervisor: Ing. Vladimír Verner, Ph.D.
• Reader: William Nkomoki, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Bachelor programme:
International Cooperation in Agricultural and Rural Development