Feasibility Study of a Small-Scale Recirculating Aquaculture System for Sustainable (Peri-)Urban Farming in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Nigerian Perspective
The (peri-)urban population in developing countries, especially sub-Saharan Africa, is rapidly increasing. As towns and cities grow, so does the demand for fish protein. While flow-through aquaculture can provide fresh, healthy and nutritious fish protein, it is plagued by extensive land requirement...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Land |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/11/2063 |
| _version_ | 1797464811893686272 |
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| author | Emmanuel O. Benjamin Oreoluwa Ola Gertrud R. Buchenrieder |
| author_facet | Emmanuel O. Benjamin Oreoluwa Ola Gertrud R. Buchenrieder |
| author_sort | Emmanuel O. Benjamin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The (peri-)urban population in developing countries, especially sub-Saharan Africa, is rapidly increasing. As towns and cities grow, so does the demand for fish protein. While flow-through aquaculture can provide fresh, healthy and nutritious fish protein, it is plagued by extensive land requirements as well as effluent discharge and is thus unsuitable for city regions. Alternatively, small-scale Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) could improve food and nutritional security and livelihoods as well as reduce environmental degradation in (peri-)urban areas despite land and water constraints. The question, however, remains—what are the key technical, business and managerial issues surrounding small-scale RAS in (peri-)urban farming? To answer this question, first, a systematic literature review on RAS in sub-Saharan Africa is conducted. Second, the RAS prototype of the Sustainable Aquaponics for Nutritional and Food Security in Urban Sub-Saharan Africa (SANFU) II project is assessed. This assessment is based on the mass balance and stock density, relevant for fish survival and/or availability as well as net cash flow analyses. The results suggest that small-scale RAS are technically and financially viable with efficient filtration and family labor having proper aquaculture monitoring and management skills. Furthermore, access to adequate equipment and inputs as well as electricity for the recirculating system are crucial. (Peri-)urban innovation actors will adopt RAS if operations are profitable. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:13:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-14973e4fd98643b7b1ba16c1ae5b3520 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:13:27Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj.art-14973e4fd98643b7b1ba16c1ae5b35202023-11-24T08:56:10ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2022-11-011111206310.3390/land11112063Feasibility Study of a Small-Scale Recirculating Aquaculture System for Sustainable (Peri-)Urban Farming in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Nigerian PerspectiveEmmanuel O. Benjamin0Oreoluwa Ola1Gertrud R. Buchenrieder2Department of Agricultural Production and Resource Economics, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85354 Freising, GermanyDepartment of Governance in International Agribusiness, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85354 Freising, GermanyRISK Research Center, Universität der Bundeswehr München (UniBw M), 85577 Neubiberg, GermanyThe (peri-)urban population in developing countries, especially sub-Saharan Africa, is rapidly increasing. As towns and cities grow, so does the demand for fish protein. While flow-through aquaculture can provide fresh, healthy and nutritious fish protein, it is plagued by extensive land requirements as well as effluent discharge and is thus unsuitable for city regions. Alternatively, small-scale Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) could improve food and nutritional security and livelihoods as well as reduce environmental degradation in (peri-)urban areas despite land and water constraints. The question, however, remains—what are the key technical, business and managerial issues surrounding small-scale RAS in (peri-)urban farming? To answer this question, first, a systematic literature review on RAS in sub-Saharan Africa is conducted. Second, the RAS prototype of the Sustainable Aquaponics for Nutritional and Food Security in Urban Sub-Saharan Africa (SANFU) II project is assessed. This assessment is based on the mass balance and stock density, relevant for fish survival and/or availability as well as net cash flow analyses. The results suggest that small-scale RAS are technically and financially viable with efficient filtration and family labor having proper aquaculture monitoring and management skills. Furthermore, access to adequate equipment and inputs as well as electricity for the recirculating system are crucial. (Peri-)urban innovation actors will adopt RAS if operations are profitable.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/11/2063food security(peri-)urban farmingfish proteinRASlandwater |
| spellingShingle | Emmanuel O. Benjamin Oreoluwa Ola Gertrud R. Buchenrieder Feasibility Study of a Small-Scale Recirculating Aquaculture System for Sustainable (Peri-)Urban Farming in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Nigerian Perspective Land food security (peri-)urban farming fish protein RAS land water |
| title | Feasibility Study of a Small-Scale Recirculating Aquaculture System for Sustainable (Peri-)Urban Farming in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Nigerian Perspective |
| title_full | Feasibility Study of a Small-Scale Recirculating Aquaculture System for Sustainable (Peri-)Urban Farming in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Nigerian Perspective |
| title_fullStr | Feasibility Study of a Small-Scale Recirculating Aquaculture System for Sustainable (Peri-)Urban Farming in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Nigerian Perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feasibility Study of a Small-Scale Recirculating Aquaculture System for Sustainable (Peri-)Urban Farming in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Nigerian Perspective |
| title_short | Feasibility Study of a Small-Scale Recirculating Aquaculture System for Sustainable (Peri-)Urban Farming in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Nigerian Perspective |
| title_sort | feasibility study of a small scale recirculating aquaculture system for sustainable peri urban farming in sub saharan africa a nigerian perspective |
| topic | food security (peri-)urban farming fish protein RAS land water |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/11/2063 |
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