Aquaculture has known benefits to society, such as increased availability of high-quality animal protein, poverty alleviation, increased employment, foreign exchange earnings for developing countries, and profit for entrepreneurs and investors (Tucker et al., 2009a). However, most forms of aquaculture are perceived to have adverse environmental effects (Tucker et al., 2009a). Even though there are signs that the rate of growth for global aquaculture may have peaked, high growth rates may continue for some regions and species, such as the sub-Saharan African region and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), respectively (FAO, 2007). These are usually small-scale operations in earthen ponds, which are fed with inexpensive and easily accessible sinking pelleted feed, and drained after every production cycle (Frimpong et al., 2009). Practices that enhance the profitability and efficiency of these small-scale aquaculture operations while protecting the environment must be encouraged.
Best management practices (BMPs) are increasingly regarded as meaningful goals in the overall reduction of cumulative impacts of agriculture (Clay, 2009). The two BMPs to be examined in this study are... read more
This study has two broad goals:
1. To characterize adoption of aquaculture BMPs on fish farms in Ghana, and
2. To assess selected economic, social, and environmental outcomes of BMP adoption.
The specific objectives of this study are to:
1. Characterize the adoption of aquaculture BMPs by
i) determining the relative effectiveness of three innovation diffusion techniques,
ii) identifying factors that influence adoption, and
iii) determining the rate of adoption,
2. Investigate the impacts of BMP adoption on profitability of tilapia pond aquaculture farms,
3. Assess the impacts of BMP adoption on social welfare (poverty alleviation) using changes in economic surplus from farms, and
4. Assess the impacts of BMP adoption on the supply of ecosystem services (i.e., decreasing export of nutrients and sediments from study farms).