Aquaculture sector if fully exploited has great potential of boosting foreign exchange, household nutritional and income levels. However, not much has been done regarding economic analysis of aquaculture production to attract and guide investment. This study was carried out to assess the profitability and viability of the aquaculture enterprises in central Uganda. The study focused on the socioeconomic and production characteristics, profitability indices and significant challenges experienced by the fish farmers. The fish farmers were selected using simple random and purposive Original Research Article

Aquaculture development commentary supports the formation of fish farmer associations or producer organizations as avenues for cultivating small-and medium-scale commercial farmers. However, little is known about the types of associations that facilitate commercialization. This research presents four qualitative case studies, based on semi-structured interviews, profiling existing associations of commercial fish farmers in Uganda. We conclude that the umbrella organizations under which local fish farmer associations vertically align themselves have important implications for fish farmer production. Aquaculture-specific umbrella organizations contribute to the success of local member association's more than general umbrella organizations do. Successful fish farmer associations accept government assistance only when it directly improves their fish farm operations. Other farmer groups seemed to wait for direct subsidization. Training fish farmers, providing quality information, cost sharing, and advocating for the aquaculture sector, not donor seeking, are the top priorities in productive fish farmer associations.

We have been conducting collaborative ethnographic research together for over 20 years. Over the past 12 months, this collaboration has included face-to-face encounters, both in Kampala, Uganda, and in Perth, Australia. However, since the advent of COVID-19-related ‘lockdowns’ in our respective countries, our engagements have been conducted exclusively over online platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook and – increasingly – Zoom. In this article, we reflect upon our shared experience of conducting ethnography through this platform as a tool for understanding the effects of the pandemic in Uganda. We argue that, despite all kinds of material constraints (at both ends), Zoom has much to off er the ethnographer particularly because it can generate an intimate understanding of experience and time. However, against this advantage, some aspects of social life remain beyond the range of its channels, for which an assemblage of additional methods are required. We finish by reflecting upon what these methods have contributed to our long-term study of emergent cultures of mobility in Uganda – a study which is now being conducted in an ostensible context of immobility.

This paper focuses on examining the modalities of extension service provision, and determining feasible approaches for increasing accessibility among fish farmers in Uganda. The paper draws on a cross-sectional study involving fish farming households and extension workers to determine access to extension services for improved farming practices. Quantitative data were collected from 246 households using a semi-structured questionnaire. Qualitative data were generated from Key Informant interviews with selected extension workers, officials in charge of extension planning District Fisheries Officers and Fish Farmer Group leaders. Focus Group Discussions were also conducted with fish farmers. The results indicated a significant association between socio-economic characteristics of fish farmers and access to extension services. Size of land owned, income from pond fish and membership to fish-farmer groups were the significant factors (P<0.05). All the respondents reported pressing needs which required extension intervention. The respondents expressed the need to form effective farmer groups for the purpose of sharing knowledge, arriving at mutual agreement on scheduling extension activities and providing feedback to the extension workers. Specifically for the northern region, there is a need for the Fisheries Extension Officer to identify and respond to the extension needs of fish farmers through various means including ICTs. Identifying solutions to social, technical and institutional constraints in extension can increase access to services through constructive social interactions between farmers and extension agents. The article provides important lessons for practice and policy, and proposes a farmer-centred model, capable of facilitating increased access to aquaculture extension services in Uganda.