Characterization of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Farming Intensities in Liberia

Fish farming is a rapidly growing food sector in developing nations. Liberia is an example of a least developed country with a large population facing high poverty levels. This has led to the adoption of aquaculture as one of the most important strategies for solving malnutrition and food security problems. However, since the introduction of fish farming, fish yields have been persistently low. To address the shortcomings in fish yields in Liberia, a study was conducted to provide information on fish farming intensities, types, and quality of feeds used by farmers in the culture of O. niloticus in Bong, Lofa, Nimba, and Grande Gedeh counties. Using stratified purposive sampling, 120 farmers were interviewed, and their fish feeds were sampled for proximate nutrient analyses. The results demonstrated that fish farming of O. niloticus in Liberia is mostly semi-extensive (81.6%), mainly practiced in paddy, barrage, and earthen ponds. On average, farmers produce 165.7 kg ha−1 of O. niloticus annually, translating to USD 414.25. Farmers use mixed feeding regimes, comprising farmer-made, kitchen waste, and blended commercial feeds. Farmers, on average, spend 43% of their operation cost on feeds, which makes it unsustainable to maintain semi-intensive systems. The main feed ingredients used by Liberian fish farmers are rice bran, wheat bran, corn, palm kernel, and fishmeal. Crude protein levels in feed ingredients are as follows: rice bran (3.7 ± 1.3%), wheat bran (16.4 ± 1.5%), corn (6.3 ± 1.1%), palm kernel cake (14.8 ± 1.4%), and fishmeal (63.8 ± 1.3%). Crude proteins were low in formulated feeds, ranging from 8–15% CP. From this study, poor yields and the slow growth of O. niloticus can be attributed to low-protein diets, rendering farming ventures unprofitable and unsustainable for resource-poor farmers in Liberia.