Die Bodenkultur - Journal for Land Management, Food and Environment

D. A. Kassahun, H. Waidbacher, J. M. Munguti and W. J. Zollitsch:

Locally available feedstuffs for small-scale aquaculture in Ethiopia – a review

Summary

The lack of suitable feedstuffs is a major factor limiting the development of aquaculture in Ethiopia. Available datasets of proximate analysis were used to assess the suitability as a fish feed of 7 groups of locally available feed materials. The most promising components were found among agro-industrial by-products, herbaceous forages, cereal and legume seeds and leaves of fodder trees and shrubs. Roots and tubers, other feed crops and less common feeds were found to be less suitable. Because of the dominant role of crop farming in Ethiopia, crop residues are widely available, but are mostly of poor nutritional value. Therefore emphasis has to be given to assess possibilities for improving the nutritional value of crop residues if they are to be utilized for aquaculture in the future. Key words: Aquaculture, Ethiopia, fish, feed, proximate analysis.