Current situation of fish farming in Togo

Abstract

In Togo, fish farming is faced with several problems which oblige farmers to develop local production techniques that explain the low level of production. To assess the current situation, a survey was conducted to collect information on this activity in 91 Togolese fish farms located in the five regions of the country. The survey has shown the existence of two production systems, namely the extensive majority system (87.91%) practiced in ponds and water reservoirs and the semi intensive system (12.09%) implemented in tanks and ponds. The lack of accurate data has made it difficult to estimate production. Nevertheless, eight fish species are found in these environments in which tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and the African cat fish (Clarias gariepinus) represent 80% of farmed species. Feed, representing over 50% of fish production cost, remains the major constraint on the development of this activity. However, agro-industrial by-product resources were available depending on region and are recoverable for use as fish feed. This is the case for palm kernel meal which was abundant and little studied in Togo. Sociologically, fish farming was more a matter of group (61.54%) than individual (38.46%) activity. The extensive fish farming system deserves to be improved and agro-industrial by-products analyzed and valued for the promotion of fish farming in Togo.

Keywords: Fish, food, fish farming infrastructure, agro-industrial by-products, palm kernel meal.