CARIBBEAN FOOD CROPS SOCIETY 44 Forty Fourth Annual Meeting 2008

Transcription

1 CARIBBEAN FOOD CROPS SOCIETY 44 Forty Fourth Annual Meeting 2008 Miami, Florida, USA Vol. XLIV - Number 2 Continued Poster Session Abstracts With Some Posters Expanded as Full Papers UF MEETING HOST: UNIVERSITY of FLORIDA IFAS

2 2008 Proceedings of the Caribbean Food Crops Society. 44(2): Poster #46 Development of Small Scale Aquaculture Farms in North Florida Uford A. Madden 1, G. Nurse 1, J. Beaudouin, A. Bolques 1, L. Muralles 1, S. Harris- Thompson 1, A. Wallamsley 2, M. May 3, andf. Chapman 4, Extension and Outreach Program, College of Engineering Sciences, Florida A & M University, Tallahassee, Florida 2 Florida Farm Bureau Federation, Gainesville, Florida, 3 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Tallahassee, Florida, and 4 University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. ABSTRACT. This program provides teaching, research and extension assistance to small farmers operating small-scale aquaculture farms, which utilize natural water bodies to contribute to food production. Thus the program supports the development of the aquaculture industry and the economy of Florida. A specific objective was to bring together production, economic and marketing specialists in integrated demonstration of projects to optimize production systems (ponds, tanks, raceways cages and hybrid systems), spawning and hatchery techniques, microencapsulated feeds, batch plankton culture procedures, preventive aquatic animal health practices and product value. The program addresses problems/needs of small, limited resource and economically disadvantaged farmers and facilitates cooperation of specialists and county agents in finding solutions to various challenges encountered in the industry. Initially the project involved ten (10) existing and new farmers in counties within a one hundred (100) mile radius. Farmers currently growing fish and those interested in growing fish, with or without ownership of existing water bodies, were identified. The project began in July 2006 at FAMU Research and Extension Center, Quincy, Florida, where there are ponds; and it provided classroom and hands-on training and a farm visit was made with each farmer. A training curriculum was developed with modules and information used for the instruction. Fourteen farmers were trained on the best management practices and alternative methods for improvement of production systems for fish (e.g. Bait fish and Sturgeon). Marketing strategies were addressed to sustain the increased production of fish and profitability. Four ponds were revitalized and once per week ph, temperature, depth and dissolved oxygen data were collected as the ponds stabilized. Brochures were developed to support development of small scale enterprises, production of fmgerlings and utilization of existing natural resources and reduction of specialized inputs. KEYWORDS: Aquaculture, small scale farms, fish production INTRODUCTION. Aquaculture can contribute to increase in food production and the agricultural economy of the State of Florida by development of small scale aquaculture farms. It has been hypothesized that fresh water aquaculture is one of the fastest growing sectors in the United States agricultural economy. In 2003, Florida had 34 catfish operations with a 481

3 total of 660 acres of water surface area which indicated a 25% decrease (220 acres) from Foodsize fish (590 acres) and fingerlings (45 acres) accounted for the majority of the acreage. In 2002, majority of the sales were to processors and total sales were $756,000. In 2003, a survey conducted for the Division of Aquaculture, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, showed that reported sales by aquaculture producers were $95.5 million. These were comparable to sales reported in 2001 of $99.5 million that were reported for 2001 which is the third highest volume of sales recorded by survey since it was started in In 1997, 102 million of sales was recorded and is the largest volume of sales realized from aquaculture products. Increased sales for Tropical Fish, Tilapia, Catfish, Live Rock, and Other Aquatics were reported in 2003 whereas Aquatic Plants, Clams and Oysters, Alligators, Shrimp, and Other Fish sales decreased. A total of 544 operations utilized 6,450 acres in 2003, whereas in operations used 7,010 acres. In the 2003 survey, 80 active operations had no sales, which may as be as result of new operations that had no product for sale or operations in business that did have sell any product for sale. Thirty (30) operations sales to foreign markets totaled $5.3 million. Most aquaculture operations in Florida are small farm enterprises. In 2003, 43.9 percent of the 544 operations were less than 3 acres and represent many of the clam producers, with lease of 2 acres of water in the Gulf of Mexico or the Indian River Lagoon, and included some of the small tropical fish farmers. Approximately 20.6% of the operations utilized 3 to 6 acres of land and/or water and operations that used 50 acres or more accounted for 3 percent. Florida A&M University (FAMU) has eight fish ponds that can be used to make significant contribution to increase fish production. In North Florida, there are several farmers with existing ponds, lakes, and other water bodies that are producing fish but there are other water bodies that are not been utilized for fish production. There is a need to develop programs that will allow farmers to utilize existing water bodies and integrated with tank production systems to produce fish to increase their productivity and profitability and development of small scale farming enterprises. OBJECTIVES. The specific objectives of this project was to address food production by utilization of integrated demonstration projects that bring production, economic and marketing specialists together are needed to improve or develop production systems (ponds, tanks, raceways cages and hybrid systems), spawning and hatchery techniques, microencapsulated feeds, batch plankton culture procedures, preventive aquatic animal health practices and product value. The program objectives were: l).to provide services in teaching, research and extension to small farmers in the development of small-scale aquaculture farms utilizing natural water bodies to contribute to food production, the development of the Aquaculture industry and to the economy of the State of Florida; 2) To address the objective: Integrated demonstration projects that bring production, economic and marketing specialists together are needed to improve or develop production systems (ponds, tanks, raceways cages and hybrid systems), spawning and hatchery techniques, microencapsulated feeds, batch plankton culture procedures, preventive aquatic animal health practices and product value MATERIALS AND METHODS. 531

4 Four ponds were available for conducting research, hands-on training and demonstrations for small, limited resource farmers and economically disadvantaged farmers. Farmers who are currently growing fish and farmers who are interested in growing fish with or without ownership of existing water bodies were identified. The farmers were trained on the best management practices and on alternative methods for improvement of production systems for fish (Bait fish and Sturgeon). Marketing strategies were addressed at the beginning of the program in order to prove information to assist farmers on how to develop plans that will help them to sustain market for the increased production of fish and profitability of these farms. Farmers were assisted in the development of plans for small scale enterprises and producing fmgerlings for their own production. The project was designed to work initially with ten (10) existing and new farmers in counties within a one hundred (100) mile radius. The project utilized the Florida A & M University Community Development Center (CDC), formerly Research and Extension Center in Quincy, Florida, where there are existing ponds. County agents and the Florida Farm Bureau Federation personnel assisted in the identification and recruitment of these farmers. The project provided classroom and hands-on training at the FAMU CDC on the various aspects of fish production. Hands-on training was conducted at the FAMU CDC and farm site visits were with each farmer to provide the technical support for the type of production system. A curriculum was developed and a training package with the modules was provided to each farmer with information used for the instruction. The information gathered from this project will be disseminated in lectures, at workshops, conferences, seminars and field demonstrations. The information will be incorporated into teaching and extension education activities to students and limited resources producers. Research findings will be presented at conferences and seminars locally and nationally. Workshops and field demonstrations will be conducted for small and limited resource producers to increase their awareness of the importance of good production practices, appropriate preventative aquatic animal health practices and their potential impact on product value, production, efficiency, and profitability of their farms. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. A training curriculum was developed with modules and information used for the instruction. Fourteen farmers were trained on the best management practices and alternative methods for improvement of production systems for fish (e.g. Bait fish and Sturgeon). Marketing strategies were addressed to sustain the increased production of fish and profitability. Four ponds were revitalized and once per week ph, temperature, depth and dissolved oxygen data were collected as the ponds stabilized. Brochures were developed to support development of small scale enterprises, production of fmgerlings and utilization of existing natural resources and reduction of specialized inputs. Further consideration is for the development of a website or for posting the information on various websites that can be accessed and links can be made to other websites. Presently, there are websites that may be considered: smallfarms.ifas.ufl.edu; FAMU.CESTA; Small Business and Florida Farm Bureau. Farmers, 532

5 A pond at the start of the project A revitalized pond ready for fish production Teachers, students and the public will be able to access the information posted on these websites. The information gathered from this project will be disseminated in lectures, at workshops, conferences, seminars and field demonstrations. The information will be incorporated into teaching and extension education activities for students and limited resources producers. Research findings will be presented at conferences and seminars locally and nationally. Workshops and field demonstrations will be conducted for small and limited resource producers to increase their awareness of the importance of good production practices, appropriate preventative aquatic animal health practices and their potential impact on product value, production, efficiency, and profitability of their farms. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. The authors would like to thank the collaborators and professionals in the various areas who assisted with the classroom lectures, hands-on training and provided invaluable technical information that was used in the development of the project and the undergraduate students who participated in this project with sample collection and data analysis.. This project provided a source of experiential learning for two undergraduate students involved in the work study program in Cooperative Extension Service, College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture at Florida A&M University. Also, this project served as a resource for one student in the Summer Rattler Phase III Internship Program in The student prepared a research paper on "Two Species of Fish That Are Commonly Raised by Farmers in Florida" and prepared and presented the information by Power Point as part of the requirement for the program. This project was funded in part by the State of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Aquaculture Programs, Honorable Charles Bronson, Commissioner. REFERENCES. 1. Core, J. and Spillman, A Keeping Catfish on Consumers'Menus. ARS National Program (# 106). (1/28/05). 2. Elstein, D Training Dogs to Smell Off-flavor in Catfish. ARS National Program (# 106). (1/28/05). 533

6 3. Florida Agricultural Statistics Service. Aquaculture(2/2003). (5/11/05). 4. Florida Agricultural Statistics Service. Aquaculture, (5/11/05). 5. Seafood and Aquaculture Marketing: Marketing Florida Agriculture. (5/11/05). 534