ECONOMIC DIFFERENTIAL OF INTEGRATED FISH, RICE CUM PIGGERY AND FISH, RICE CUM POULTRY PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Sustainability of any aquaculture venture especially for enhanced food security and socio-economic development of the target population is the challenge of the new millennium. With the right environment and best management practices (BMPs), the envisaged expectations of the integrated investment can be achieved. This paper compares the economic performance and environmental friendliness of two adaptive integrated aquaculture systems at Njala University fish farm, Sierra Leone. The studies were carried out for six months (June-November, 2014). Fish, rice cum piggery and fish, rice cum poultry production integration platforms were set up to perfect the ideas of integrated fish farming in Sierra Leone. Water quality parameters measured biweekly included: dissolved oxygen, water temperature, pH, water hardness, water alkalinity, ammonia, nitrate, BOD and nitrite. These parameters were determined using Jenway analytical probes and Pondlab multi-parameter kits. Three samples were collected in thoroughly washed 600ml water bottles at each sampling point. Water quality parameters determined in the studies were found to be within the recommended range for the culture of tropical fish species and were not also statistically significant (p