Fish farming or pisciculture involves raising fish commercially in tanks or enclosures such as

fish ponds, usually for food. It can also be referred to as the act of raising fish commercially in
tanks or enclosures for human consumption.

It is the principal form of aquaculture, while other methods may fall under mariculture. A facility
that releases juvenile fish into the wild for recreational fishing or to supplement a species' natural
numbers is generally referred to as a fish hatchery.

There are different types of fish farms that utilize different aquiculture methods which include:
cage system which use cages that are placed in lakes, ponds and oceans that contain the fish. The
second method is irrigation ditch or pond systems for raising fish. This basic requirement for this
method is to have a ditch or a pond that holds water. The third method of fish farming is called
composite fish culture which is a type of fish farming that allows both local fish species and
imported fish species to coexist in the same pond. The fourth method of fish farming is called
integrated recycling systems which is considered the largest scale method of “pure” fish farming.
This approach uses large plastic tanks that are placed inside a greenhouse. The last type of fish
farming method is called classic fry farming this method is also known as “flow through
system”. This is when sport fish species are raised from eggs and are put in streams and released.

Water supply

An assured water supply of sufficient quantity and adequate quality is the most important factor
to be considered when deciding on the suitability of a fish pond site. Therefore, the
investigations for a proper water source should be most thoroughly conducted in site selection.

Water quality

Quality of water is one of the most significant factors to be considered in site selection. It should
be investigated by taking a number of water samples from the proposed water source for
laboratory analyses of physical, chemical, biological and micro-biological properties, including
health hazards.
Climate

Important climatological factors to be obtained from the meteorological station nearest to the site
are as follows: mean monthly temperature, mean monthly rainfall, mean monthly evaporation,
mean monthly humidity, mean monthly sunshine, mean monthly wind speed and direction

Soil characteristics

Field investigations to determine surface and sub-surface soil conditions at the site should be
made as early as possible. Often money can be saved if proper soil explorations are made before
the site is procured. They may reveal soil conditions undesirable for pond construction, in which
case another site may have to be found.

Hydrological characteristics

The most important data needed for site selection can be gathered from such sources as Irrigation
Departments or other Water Authorities. The following are needed: data for discharge, yield,
floods and water elevations of existing water sources (rivers, irrigation channels, reservoirs,
springs, etc.).

A recent study in one of the counties aimed at finding out the opportunities in the fish value
chain listed five main challenges which include:

Low production/productivity: The mostly practiced poly-culture (more than one species) of
tilapia with African catfish and mixed sex culture system of farming results in low pond
productivity.

Limited supply of fingerlings: The fast-growing number of smallholder fish farmers requires
dependable, affordable, and adequate supply of fingerlings. To address the issue of fingerlings,
the farmers are advised to form cooperatives that will establish a dedicated fingerling production
system by building the capacity of selected producer groups to start and manage open pond
hatcheries to enhance the production of quality fingerlings.

Limited value addition/processing: Most of the smallholder farmers sell dressed fish within the
local market. This indicates a relatively poor level of processing standards, quality, presentation
and packaging. A significant improvement in these standards would suggest that substantially
higher returns can be achieved to the benefit of processors as well as fishermen.
Limited quality feeds: Feeds constitute up to 40 - 50 per cent of total production costs and are
responsible for the high production costs incurred by the farmers.

Therefore, to improve the profitability and viability of the aquaculture industry, it is necessary to
ensure that farmers have access to quality feeds that are formulated to standardized specifications
of the reared fish at its various development stages.

Benefits of fish farming

source of proteins, creation of employment, source of foreign exchange, source of organic

fertilizer, for earning a personal income.

Question 2(a)

Beekeeping (or apiculture) is the maintenance of bee colonies, commonly in man-made hives, by
humans. Beekeeping, also known as Apiculture is the maintenance of Beehives by Humans. The
person who maintains the beehives and collects the Bee products or sells the bees to another
person is called the Beekeeper. Bees are kept in a location called the Beehive or an apiary. Most
such bees are honey bees in the genus Apis , but other honey-producing bees such as Melipona
stingless bees are also kept.

Question 2(b)

Beekeepers need to put in consideration the following factors when selecting the sites for
beehives:

1.Availability of flowers: Site your apiary near a nectar source like flowering trees and shrubs,
food crops and cash crops. Moreover, a beekeeper should know the flowering periods of the
various plants in and around the apiary.

2. Availability of water: Site your apiary close to a perennial source of water. However, if there
is no permanent source, you can provide water in neat colorful bowls or containers with floating
sticks for bees to step on and avoid drowning.

3. Accessibility and topography: An apiary must be accessible for easy management and
transportation of honey. Flat or gentle sloppy lands are more preferred for an apiary for easy
management.
4. Shelter or Shady area: Shelter beehives against strong winds direct sunlight and wind
blowing off the top covers. The swinging of the hives makes the bees rowdy and hostile. You
can do this through the use of trees for shade and as a windbreak. You can also use artificial
shades.

5. The proximity of human activities or human conflicts: Site an apiary away from public
places or areas where human activities take place every day. Avoid areas close to schools,
markets, hospitals, playgrounds, highways, cultivated fields etc. as bees become a nuisance to the
people.

6. Presence of pests and the use of pesticides: An apiary should be free from areas with
frequent attacks by pests (honey badger, ants and man). Site your apiary should far from fields
which are sprayed with pesticides to avoid bee poisoning and honey contamination.

7. Drainage: We recommend a well-drained site to avoid being washed away by a flood. Also,
waterlogged soils cause rotting of hives.

Question 2(c)

Common beekeeping problems and challenges for beginners are:

Uncertainty where to get knowledge, getting your first bee colony, confusion about beehive
placement, floral source needed for bees, handling queen bees, the health of your bee colony,
honey prices and market demand, nectar dearth.

High cost of modern hive and equipment, modern hives and its equipment are very expensive
and thus it is not easy to affordable to buy and use this equipment.

Honeybee diseases: It is well known that, honey bee diseases are causing significant impact on
the health status and well-being of honey bee. The sign of honey bee diseases like crawling bees
on the landing board, bees fail to fly, dislocated wings and bloated abdomen, and this is probably
paralysis which is caused by virus.

Pest and predators: Like all living things, honeybees are attacked at all stages of their
development by various enemies either directly as predators, or indirectly, by disturbing the life
of the colony in various ways. Pest and predators are a serious problem next to honey bee
diseases. The major bee pests and predators like ants, wax-month, and honey badger locally
known as Hamaa, spider, wasps and lizards are the most beekeeping challenges that are
consequence for swarming, absconding, migration and death of colonies.

Other challenges include viruses, the lack of forage and the drought, colony collapse disorder
remains high on the list.

Question 2(d)

Even buying honey in bulk and packing it into smaller containers, such as bottles, for retail sale
is a form of value addition and is a technique frequently utilised by small shop and stall owners
worldwide.

Results further indicate that beeswax processing was also practiced by a significant number of
beekeepers from the study area as a value addition initiative.

The least popular primary value addition initiatives were comb honey processing and propolis
extraction.

Thirty percent of the beekeepers labelled their honey with a trade name. Beekeepers perceive
labelling as an expensive venture which requires marketing knowledge such as branding

In conclusion, although pond culture still predominates, the use of raceways, tanks, cages and
recirculating systems has increased. Every aquaculturally needs to select carefully the best
equipment for his or her facility and be knowledgeable in the use of the equipment.

Honeybees provide a variety of goods(honey, wax, pollen, loyal jelly and propolis) and
services(pollination) to human society and eco system.
 REFERENCES

Clauss B. (1992). Bees and beekeeping in the North Western Province of Zambia. Report on
beekeeping survey. German Volunteer Service Forest Department.
Kabompo.

Hora, S.L. (1962). Handbook on fish culture in the Indo-Pacific region. FAO Fish.

James, T, 1977. Planning of aquaculture development - an introductory guide. Farnham,

Surrey, Fishing News Books Ltd, for FAO.

Mickels K, G. (2006). Small-scale woodland-based enterprises with outstanding potential. The

case of honey in Zambia. Bogor, Indonesia: Center for International Forestry
Research.

Pillay, R. (2000). Classification and identification of soils for general engineering purposes.
New Delhi, Indian Standards Institution.