Understanding the Role of Fish Farmer Associations as Intermediaries for the Commercialization of Aquaculture in Uganda
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Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Fisheries and Aquaculture Journal
Abstract
Aquaculture development commentary supports the formation of fish farmer associations or producer
organizations as avenues for cultivating small- and medium-scale commercial farmers. However, little is known
about the types of associations that facilitate commercialization. This research presents four qualitative case studies,
based on semi-structured interviews, profiling existing associations of commercial fish farmers in Uganda. We
conclude that the umbrella organizations under which local fish farmer associations vertically align themselves have
important implications for fish farmer production. Aquaculture-specific umbrella organizations contribute to the
success of local member association’s more than general umbrella organizations do. Successful fish farmer
associations accept government assistance only when it directly improves their fish farm operations. Other farmer
groups seemed to wait for direct subsidization. Training fish farmers, providing quality information, cost sharing, and
advocating for the aquaculture sector, not donor seeking, are the top priorities in productive fish farmer associations.
Description
Keywords
Fish farming, Cage culture, Tilapia, Cooperatives, Development
Citation
Stutzman, E., Molnar, J., Atukunda, G., & Walakira, J. (2017). Understanding the role of fish farmer associations as intermediaries for the commercialization of aquaculture in Uganda. Fisheries and Aquaculture Journal, 8(3), 1-13. DOI: 10.4172/2150-3508.1000214