J. of Advanced Botany and Zoology Volume 1/ Issue 1 ISSN: 2348 – 7313 1 Opportunities in adoption of commercial fish farming as a new enterprise for small scale farmers in Kisii county, Kenya Margaret Gachucha 1* , Bernard Njehia 2 , Patience Mshenga 3 1. Egerton University, Njoro Campus, Kenya. 2. Department of Agribusiness and Trade, Kenyatta University. 3. Department of Agricultural Economics, Egerton University Corresponding author: Margaret Gachucha Egerton University Njoro Campus, Kenya. E-mail: author-maggienyamoni@gmail.com Received: January 10, 2014, Accepted: January 22, 2014, Published: January 24, 2014. ABSTRACT The paper focuses on the opportunities which are present in the livestock sector in terms of new enterprises and which are not exploited by the farmers in the study area. It analyses the socioeconomics behind adoption of fish farming as an enterprise- describing the adopters’ characteristics and explaining the factors that influence the adoption process. Most of the analyzed factors are important and significantly influence the decision to adopt fish farming enterprise, with land size only having a negative relationship. The enterprise is also found to be a profitable venture when the financial analysis is done. Key words: adoption, fish farming, household, small scale farmer, socioeconomic factors INTRODUCTION Fish is ranked the fifth most important agricultural commodity and accounts for 7.5 percent of total world food production with about 1 billion people in developing countries depending on fish products as the primary source of animal protein [5]. Nevertheless, aquaculture production is dominated by Asian countries contributing 85% of total output and China alone accounting for about 70%; in 2004, Sub-Saharan Africa contributed only 1.6 percent (93500 tonnes) of the total fish production [12]. The fisheries sub-sector provides employment and income to over 500,000 Kenyans engaged in fish production and related enterprises [15]. The main fish species presently farmed in Kenya are the African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus), Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Tilapia zillii. Current data shows that the value of fish farmed in Kenya grew from 1047 MT valued at Ksh. 55,627,000 in 2006 to 4897 MT in 2009 with a value of Ksh.971,120,000 [10]. About 30% of the fish is exported. There are estimated to be 22000 ponds in Kenya currently and approximately 5000 fish farmers [12]. Though Kenya has the potential fish farming area of over 1.14 million hectares and if fully exploited, production could be increased to 11 million metric tones per annum and fetch Ksh.750 billion, farmers have not come out fully to maximize the opportunities in this sector. Latest developments in the sector indicate that the government rolled out Ksh.1.12 billion to support fish farming activities in the country and constructed 200 ponds in 140 constituencies with the aim of reducing poverty [7]. Despite the potential in fish farming, farmers in high potential agricultural zones in Kenya still majorly depend of food crop farming. These farmers are faced with ever increasing land fragmentation due to high population and they have continuously cultivated available arable land resulting in low productivity. This study looks into viability of fish farming as an alternative enterprise for farmers in such high potential areas and also delves into the socioeconomics characteristics of the farmers. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study Area Kisii County is located to the south east of Lake Victoria. The total area of the county is 1,317.4km2. It lies on a highland equatorial climate thus receives rain almost throughout the year, and there are two rainy seasons; short season of September to November and long season from February to June. Rainfall is of over 1500mm per annum and temperatures can range from 16 to 27 degrees Celsius. The area has well drained red clay soils that support a variety of crops including cash crop production (tea and coffee) and subsistence crops (maize, beans, millet and potatoes). The area also has several permanent rivers and streams that drain into Lake Victoria. With a population of 1,152,282 people (48% male and 52% female) and an annual growth rate of 2.75 %, most farmers are small scale holders with farm sizes ranging from 0.1 to JOURNAL OF ADVANCED BOTANY AND ZOOLOGY Journal homepage: http://scienceq.org/Journals/JABZ.php Research Article Open Access