Preliminary Study on Construction of Three-in-one Fishpond and Its Effect on Aquaculture in Ethiopia

Abstract

Sandy nature of soil in Ethiopian rift valley challenged use of earthen ponds for fish culture. This trial was conducted at Algae Agricultural Technical and Vocational Educational Training (ATVET) College in Ethiopian central rift valley to investigate feasibility of fishpond constructed from mixture of local materials named “Three-in-one” and to assess its suitability and capacity for aquaculture. Fishponds were excavated, walls built with three layers; plastic membrane, "Three-in-one" soil and cement pavement. "Three-in-one" is a mixture of clay soil, termite soil and teff straw. Fish growth in the ponds was evaluated under supplement of different sorts of agricultural residues or agricultural by-products. The "Three-in-one" fishpond technology was found to be low cost, simple to construct, able to retain water effectively and has long service life. The fishpond also supported fish growth with good farming performances as 9,250 kg/ha. Use of agricultural residues or agricultural by-products as feed for fish culture in the fishponds effectively reduced the cost of fish farming with feed coefficient 2.4~2.6. The "Three-in-one" fishpond technology and matching feed has to be evaluated and popularized for extension in appropriate sites of Ethiopia.