Utilization of Fish Feeds by Côte d’Ivoire Fish Farmers and Its Influence on the Quantitative Competitive Commercial Fish Production

Abstract

This study assesses the ability of fish feeds to produce competitive commercial fish in quantity. Three hundred and one (301) fish farms were surveyed in fifteen (15) regions of Côte d’Ivoire between May and November 2013. Fish feeds and farming systems were inventoried, characterized, ranked and sampled on each farm for biochemical analysis. Nine indicators of feeding, five indicators of aquaculture practices and four indicators of production were defined and evaluated. Results show that fish were fed with commercial feeds, feeds produced by fish farmers, agro-industrial byproducts and non conventional feeds. Intensive, semi-intensive, extensive and rice fish farming systems are the farming systems practiced. Use of commercial feeds involves the use of the quality feeds by almost 65.5% of farmers, practice of semi intensive system by 92.5% of farmers, regularly feeding with pellet feeds (72.5%) and respect of the feeding and aquaculture practices by the majority of farmers. Also, yields recorded were more than 1000 kg.ha-1year-1 and the tilapia commercial weight were more than 350 g for more than 50% of farmers. On the contrast, farm-made feeds, agro-industrial byproducts and non conventional feeds explain the long duration and the low weight of commercial tilapia production as well as the low yields of the majority of farms. Results express the need to improve the production process and the quality of farm-made and feed sellers feeds. Optimal feeding strategies and good aquaculture practices must be also followed to ensure quantitative competitive commercial fish production in Côte d’Ivoire.