Appendix 5:
CHECKLIST FOR INTERVIEWS WITH SEMI-INTENSIVE FISH FARMERS

A) CHARACTERISTICS OF FISH FARMER/HOUSEHOLD

• sex of head of household
• age of head of household
• origin of head of household
• education of head of household
• household composition (labour/consumer ratio)
• site and size of land holding
• religious affiliation (encouraging or restricting fish farming or eating)
• political function
• experience with paid employment (need of cash, attitudes)

• travel and work outside home area

B) RESOURCES

• land with water (available and sufficient)
• distance from homestead to the pond
• labour at the time required
• capital
• access to fingerlings
• access to, cost of and frequency of application of feeds

• access to, cost of and frequency of application of fertilizer

C) KNOWLEDGE AND UNCERTAINTIES

• pond construction
• feeding
• fertilizing
• reproduction of fish
• maintenance of pond
• yield of fish pond (compared to optimum; explanations)
• extension service received on the above topics
• nutritional value
• marketability (prices, transport, preservation methods etc.)
• relative value of fish

• competition with fish from other areas (the lakes)

D) OTHER ACTIVITIES

• vegetable gardening
• cash crops
• traditional agriculture
• animal husbandry
• integration of farm activities

• land labour

E) PERCEIVED ATTRIBUTES TOWARDS FISH FARMING

• degree of compatibility
  • reason / felt needs for originally starting fish farming
  • does the activity fulfil the needs expected from the beginning?
  • socio-cultural values (is it acceptable or conflicting)

  • previously introduced ideas (conflicting)

• degree of relative advantage
  • profitability
  • marketability
  • source of relish
  • immediacy of reward
  • initial costs
  • risks involved
  • status

  • relevant extension

• complexity
  • digging and maintaining pond
  • feeding
  • fertilizing

  • obtaining or reproducing fingerlings

F) CONSTRAINTS TO VIABLE SEMI-INTENSIVE FISH FARMING

• too high demand for maintenance (labour, cash)
• lack of knowledge on maintenance
• jealousy from other villagers (theft, social exclusion)
• decreasing profitability/yield over time due to lack of
  • management and maintenance
  • extension
  • demand
• higher or other inputs required than originally anticipated
• environmental factors
  • impact on fish farming from upstream pollution