Socio-economic factors influencing performance of fish farming in Kwanza constituency-Trans-Nzoia County,Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate socio-economic factors influencing the performance of fish farming in Kwanza Constituency, Trans-Nzoia County. Specifically, the study sought to investigate how farmer knowledge and skills, farmer cultural factors, access to credit facilities and cost of production influenced fish farming performance in Kwanza Constituency. The design empoyed was descriptive survey research design that used both quantitative and qualitative methods. The study targeted all 401 documented fish farmers, both small and large scale, active and dormant; spread across the four wards of Kwanza Sub-county namely Keiyo, Kwanza, Kapomboi and Bidii wards. The study also targeted four ward fishery extension officers and the sub-county fishery extension officer. Krejcie and Morgan's sample size calculation was employed to get 196 fish farmers for the sample. Simple random sampling technique was used in selecting both active and past fish farmers with one or more fish ponds in every ward to participate in the study. The questionnaire return rate was 170 (86.73%) out of 196. Out of the 170 questionnaires, 20 were spoilt leaving 150 (76.53%) questionnaires used for data analysis. Closed-ended questionnaires were used on fish farmers whereas; interview guides were employed in obtaining data from all the 5 fishery extension officers in the sub-county. Quantitative data analysis involved frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation. Collected data was processed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.Content analysis method was employed on qualitative data collected through interview guides in their respective themes. The findings were presented in tables and explanations in prose. Inferential statistics which is multiple linear regression analysis was used as illustrated by the model Y=β0+β1F1+β2F2+β3F3+β4F4+ e. The findings were that three factors; farmer knowledge and skills, farmer access to credit facilities and cost of production had a significant influence on the performance of fish farming while cultural factors did not. Of the three independent variables that had significant influence on performance of fish farming, cost of production had the greatest influence at 0.001 followed by access to credit facilities at 0.007 and finally farmer knowledge and skills at 0.040, at P<0.05. The researcher concluded that socio economic variables highly affect performance of fish farming. The recommendations of the study were that there is need for the government to step in and help the farmer‟s access subsidized feeds and standardized fingerlings and also make credit facilities readily accessible. Further the study recommended that farmers could improve production levels with financial support and increased extensional services. More extension officers should be hired to cater for the shortage of staff. Extension services should be increased to help farmers acquire adequate knowledge and skills for the sustainability of the fish farming projects.