The Impact of Policies, Regulations and Interventions on Aquaculture Production in the Eastern Corridors of Ghana | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries | ||
| Article 18, Volume 28, Issue 6, November 2024, Pages 301-321 PDF (474.67 K) | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejabf.2024.392230 | ||
| Author | ||
| Apraku et al. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| The substantial annual deficit of 600,000 MT in local fish supply to meet the growing demand of Ghanaian consumers necessitates an investigation to address this gap. This study aimed to assess the challenges of aquaculture, operational costs, and profit margins, while also evaluating the impact of government interventions on fish farmers' productivity and annual profit margins in the Eastern Corridors of Ghana. Purposive sampling was employed to select respondents, and semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 30 farmers from the Volta and Eastern regions. The demographic data revealed that males (93%) constituted the majority, while 67% of the farmers were well educated. Notably, 85% reported not benefiting from government interventions and support. Among the 15% who did benefit, 40% acknowledged a positive impact on their annual fish production and profit margins, while 60% reported an insignificant impact. The total investment of GHȻ107,060.00 yielded a net profit of GHȻ56,741.80, which is lower compared to the national net profit, approximating only 50% of total expenses. The study identified the main fish species cultured in the region as the tilapia and catfish. Additionally, the most pressing challenges facing the sector included high fish feed prices, a lack of skilled workers, high mortality rates of stocked fish, and marginalized farmers and gender imbalances in decision-making. Therefore, it is crucial to collectively analyze and develop strategies to implement policies and regulations in the aquaculture industry to promote growth and development. In summary, while government interventions have helped promote fish culture and supply in the local market, further efforts are required to effectively implement policies and strategies that reach small-scale farmers, with consideration for stakeholder involvement in decision-making. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Investments; Fish; Culture; Trends; Improvements | ||
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