How can small-scale and semi-intensive fish farms use affordable technology to improve welfare?
Context and Relevance:
In many countries (e.g., India) farmers genuinely want to improve welfare but don’t always have a way to access and maintain the necessary equipment to do so. The reasons for this lack of access include financial and infrastructure constraints. For example, aerators require electricity, so a farm without electricity cannot use these. Engineers worked on this problem and developed aerators which operate with solar panels instead. Other examples of constraints include farmers getting quality feed and appropriate slaughter methods. If marketed right, affordable and effective developments for rural farmers could greatly increase fish welfare.
Potential Research Approach:
Technology Assessment: Identify and evaluate existing and emerging technologies that are suitable for small-scale and semi-intensive farming operations. This could include innovations in housing, feeding, health monitoring, and environmental enrichment that are designed to improve animal welfare.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: Analyze the cost-effectiveness of implementing these technologies, considering the initial investment, operational costs, and potential benefits in terms of animal welfare, productivity, and market access.
Case Studies: Investigate real-world examples where affordable technologies have been successfully adopted by small-scale farms in LMICs, focusing on the impact on animal welfare and economic viability.
Stakeholder Engagement: Conduct interviews with farmers, technology providers, animal welfare experts, and agricultural extension workers to gather insights into the barriers and facilitators to technology adoption in these settings.
Policy Recommendations: Based on the findings, develop recommendations for policymakers, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations on supporting the adoption of affordable welfare-improving technologies in small-scale and semi-intensive farming systems.
Additional Questions:
What are the main challenges small-scale farmers in LMICs face when adopting new technologies aimed at improving animal welfare, and how can these challenges be effectively addressed?
How can innovative financing mechanisms, such as micro-loans or cooperative funding, be structured to help small-scale farmers in LMICs afford and sustainably implement welfare-improving technologies?
What role do local communities and social networks play in facilitating the adoption and dissemination of affordable technologies for improving animal welfare in rural farming contexts?