Scale adds complexity, but the basics are the same whether small- or large-scale fish farming. Now, the Kidera fish farmers group, having a pond of 300m2 stocked with 2000 catfish fry of 5 grams, expecting to harvest 1.500 kilograms in 12 months, has received water quality monitoring equipment and training in using it.
On their mobile phones, they have access to an app, Ecto Jobs, where they can look up the standard operating procedures (SOPs) at any time. But not only that. To create attention and awareness, measure progress, and solve problems, you need data. Along with the digitized SOPs, the app offers registration of data such as e.g. water temperature, pH, Oxygen etc. for monitoring of environmental parameters. But also, registrations of feeding, removal of mortalities, and more.
Data is instantly transferred to the cloud and accessible in user-friendly dashboards or for export to spread sheets or other applications.
Providing extension services to the farmers by traveling to the farmers in the field easily takes two days. Digitized data records allow providing support to the farmers remotely. The implementation of technology allows the team at the Makerere University in Kampala to support the farmers frequently and efficiently.
