The Role of Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation for Sustainable Backyard Aquaculture (A Survey of Fish Projects in Kikuyu, Lari and Githunguri)
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Date
2013-08-24
Authors
Wanda, Elizabeth
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Abstract
The Government initiative to expedite commercial aquaculture through the Economic
Stimulus Programme (ESP) fishpond projects since 2008 has had resounding success,
based on the demand for these projects by prospective farmers. A total of 20,000 fish
ponds have been constructed across 140 constituencies (Muiruri, 2010). Aquaculture
production went up by almost 250% between 2009 and 20 I0 but the fish prices increased
by 27.6% in the same period (Economic Survey, 2011). How sustainable are these
projects? This study investigated how pond fish farmers in Kiambu County undertake
PM&E of their projects and how this influences economic sustainability. PM&E was
divided into Project Success and Project Control variables. The study examined how
Project Control and Project Success variables relate; and also influence sustainability.
Three purposive samples each of 34 respondents, based on project location (Kikuyu, Lari
and Githunguri) were targeted by the study. Data was elicited through examination of an
. interview survey of one hundred and two (102) Economic Stimulus Package (ESP)
beneficiaries in Kikuyu, Lari and Githunguri districts. Secondary observation was also
done to verify the status of record-keeping as an indicator that PM&E is undertaken by
the respondents. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the baseline characteristics of
the project. Correlation analysis was done to investigate whether the Project Control and
Project Success variables co-vary in the study, and to quantify the strength of the linear
relationship between the two. Inferential analysis was undertaken to show whether
project location and intervening variables were significant to project sustainability. The
Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) approach using the Weighted-Sum Model
(WSM) of the maximization case method was used to analyze the relative degree of
PM&E undertaken by respective project locations and the consequent effect on project
sustainability. Results showed the existence of emerging systems of integrated fish
farming, not conforning to the project implementation guidelines. These are innovations
by farmers endeavouring to enhance project sustainability; and, 66% of the projects
targeted in the study were operating at a level that can be economically sustainable.
Kikuyu was found to perform best in this respect followed by Githunguri and Lari in that
order. Lack of fishing nets hampered frequency of harvests as farmers in the each district
share one net. The study concludes that PM&E through accessible record keeping, as
well as pond security, are significant to the economic sustainability of the projects. Also,
innovations in project implementation enhance project sustainability. Both aspects are
illustrated by the results of Kikuyu. The study recommends that government policy
should come up with a system that will motivate farmers to keep records in forms that
can be accessed years on in the life of a project if its sustainability is to be monitored and
evaluated. It also recommends that collaborative efforts between government and other
stakeholders in the private sector can consolidate efforts in the areas of community
mobilization, consistent farmer training, extension services, credit facilities, provision of
affordable fishing equipment, processing and marketing. Project sustainability is more
complex than economic sustainability alone. Further research would take one or more of
these aspects to explore such as political, socio-cultural, technological, environmental,
demographic and legal sustainability.
Description
A Research Project Submitted to the Department of Management Science School Of Business in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement of the Degree of Master of Business Administration, Kenyatta University: SH 125 .K4M8