Feasibility Study of a Small-Scale Recirculating Aquaculture System for Sustainable (Peri-)Urban Farming in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Nigerian Perspective

Emmanuel O. Benjamin (), Oreoluwa Ola and Gertrud Buchenrieder, neé Schrieder
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Emmanuel O. Benjamin: Department of Agricultural Production and Resource Economics, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85354 Freising, Germany
Oreoluwa Ola: Department of Governance in International Agribusiness, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85354 Freising, Germany

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 11, 1-19

Abstract: The (peri-)urban population in developing countries, especially sub-Saharan Africa, is rapidly increasing. As towns and cities grow, so does the demand for fish protein. While flow-through aquaculture can provide fresh, healthy and nutritious fish protein, it is plagued by extensive land requirements as well as effluent discharge and is thus unsuitable for city regions. Alternatively, small-scale Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) could improve food and nutritional security and livelihoods as well as reduce environmental degradation in (peri-)urban areas despite land and water constraints. The question, however, remains—what are the key technical, business and managerial issues surrounding small-scale RAS in (peri-)urban farming? To answer this question, first, a systematic literature review on RAS in sub-Saharan Africa is conducted. Second, the RAS prototype of the Sustainable Aquaponics for Nutritional and Food Security in Urban Sub-Saharan Africa (SANFU) II project is assessed. This assessment is based on the mass balance and stock density, relevant for fish survival and/or availability as well as net cash flow analyses. The results suggest that small-scale RAS are technically and financially viable with efficient filtration and family labor having proper aquaculture monitoring and management skills. Furthermore, access to adequate equipment and inputs as well as electricity for the recirculating system are crucial. (Peri-)urban innovation actors will adopt RAS if operations are profitable.

Keywords: food security; (peri-)urban farming; fish protein; RAS; land; water; Nigeria; sub-Sahara Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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