Abstract:
The study was conducted to identify the contributions and challenges of aquaculture in Amuria district. Two sub counties of Orungo and Kuju were selected for the study in which data was obtained from a total of 55 fish farming households. Qualitative data was collected by the use of structured and semi-structured questionnaires which were developed pre-tested and administered to sampled respondents through individual interviews. Data was analysed by using both Microsoft Excel 2007 and statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) computer software. Descriptive statistics were used to obtain frequencies and percentages which was presented in tables, graphs and pie charts. The results revealed that 72.7% of the fish farmers were males, 89.1% of the household heads-were fathers. 54.5% of the respondents had attained secondary level of education, the mean age was 44years which is the active age group 72.7% of the respondents reported farming as their main occupation 80%· of the respondents earned less than Shs 1,000,000 from fish. proceedings, 95% reported. income as the-major reason for rearing fish. 45.5% of the respondents used fish earnings for the payment of school fees. 54.5% of the respondents stated that there is a decline in fish production in Kuju and Orungo sub counties 29.7% of the respondents stated predators as a Mixes of both natural and manmade challenges were identified to limit adoption of fish farming and they' include; predators, flooding, slow maturing fish. expensive and inaccessible fish feeds and fingerlings and finally-limited, extension services. Main expenditure from fish earnings were mainly on school fees, purchase of household assets and medical care for the family. Efforts should. be made by Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries and the development partners to give a special attention to provision of a hatchery, extension services and provision of overlapping pipes to deal with floods in the district Policy must be directed to make borrowing capital easier and readily available. This should not be limited to private sector like banks and micro finance institutions hut also SACCOs and community savings groups
