Abstract:
The study identified socio economic factors influencing fish farming in Soroti district Multistage sampling technique was used in selection of 60 fish in the district. The findings indicate that; Education (X2 =5349, df=2), occupation (X2 = 17.00, df; =2) experience in fish farming (X2 =6742 df=2), household size (X2 =l1.605, df=2) a land (X2 8.098', df=2) at 10% confidence level (P<0.l) were the social factors that had statistical influence on fish farming. The sex of the respondent (p=0.116), age of the respondent (P=0.365), marital status (P=0.212), Fish farmers association (P=0.114), Family type (p=0.346) were not.significant at 10% confidence level the main species culture was Clarias garlepinus (83.3%) mainly under semi intensive production level (63.7%). Fish farmers preferred monoculture (86.7%) to polyculture. All the farmers used earthen ponds of mainly 10 meters by 20 meters (80%), a majority 50% owned only one fish pond. Majority (71.7%) of the fish fanners obtain their fish, seed from commercial hatcheries. Based on culturing period {production of table size), more. than half of the respondents (56.7%) cultured their fish for a period of 7-9 months. The water sourced from the streams/rivers (71.7%). The feeding regime showed, 46.7% fed their fish twice a day mainly on locally made feeds. The farmers fertilized their fish ponds using Poultry manure (65%). The following economic factors had a significant association on fish farming; Annual Household income types of records kept and Credit sources available (P<O.1) at 10% confidence level. The market channels were not significant (P=O.162) at 10% confidence level. The study concluded that education level, occupation, household size experience in fish farming, and land holdings in acres, household income per annual types of records kept, and credit services were the socio-economic factors that influenced fish farming in Soroti district. Fish farmers in Soroti should be encouraged and mobilized to form cooperative groups, Government should improve on incentives for fish farmers and local governments, the fanners should be trained on financial management and record keeping, and modern fish farming methods.
