ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF AQUACULTURE SYSTEMS IN KAFR EL SHEIKH GOVERNORATE (EGYPT)

(EL-MOHEET DRAIN AREA)

Abd El Rahman Salama¹; Mohamed Tag El Deen²; Ahmed M.D. El Shafei³; Soliman, M.A.M.⁴ and Ahmed Tawfik¹

¹Department of Fish Economic; ²Department of fish disease; ³Department of Fish Extension; ⁴Department of Limnology- Central Laboratory for Aquaculture Research (CLAR), Agricultural Research Center (ARC).

Corresponding Author E-Mail: [email protected]

Abstract

This paper investigates economic evaluation of Aquaculture systems used in fish farms located in the South of El-Burullus Lake, which produce 60% of the total aquaculture production and the impact of any changes in drainage water quality and quantity on the aquaculture economics. The study area included fish farms existing between pump station 7 and 8 and El-Moheet drain as well as in land fish farm and comparing with competing filed crop (rice and sugar beet). The study estimates variable cost, fixed cost, total operating costs (TOC), total return, net income and rate of return for every system. After carrying out a detailed socio-economic survey in the study area. The sample survey of 55 farmers representing fish farm and crop fields in the study area were used.

The study showed that fish farm production differs according to location, financial ability, personal experience, fish densities, aquaculture system, water quantity and quality, and management of water recycling technique. Aquaculture system based on artificial food and organic manure is considered the most popular aquaculture system represents 56% from the total samples of fish farms in north of El Moheet drain, followed by aquaculture system based on artificial food only represents 20%, and at last aquaculture system based on food factory wastes and aquaculture with wheat crop represents 12% from the total samples of fish farm in north of El Moheet drain.

On the other hand aquaculture system based on artificial food only is considered the most popular aquaculture system which represents 50%, followed by aquaculture system based on artificial food and chemical fertilizers represents 28%, and in the end aquaculture system based artificial food and organic manure which represents 22% from the total samples of fish farms at the south of El Moheet drain.

Tilapia represents from 80% to 91% from the total fish densities used in the aquaculture in the studied area. Artificial food is considered the highest cost value which ranges between 30 % to 68 % which reflects the importance of finding untraditional alternatives of cheap fish meal for improving aquaculture economic.

Aquaculture with wheat cultivation system achieved the highest net income per feddan and the highest rate of return represents 55.4% in comparison to all systems followed by aquaculture based on artificial food and organic manure at fish farm located in El Moheet drain represents 38.8%.

The total operating cost of crop farming is considered less than that in aquaculture which reflects the reason of shifting from fish farm to cultivation.

The study included list of the main problems facing fish farmers: decrease quality and quantity of water, fish mass mortality in summer season, increase price of artificial feed, beside list of recommendations lead to improve economics of aquaculture at study area.