A model to achieve continuous improvement and innovation in the freshwater production of the sharptooth catfish, clarias gariepinus, in South Africa

Abstract

Global population is ever - increasing and demand for animal nutrition is also on the rise. Fish is considered to be the healthiest food on the planet and less harmful to the environment. People rely on the oceans for their daily protein intake. Capture fisheries is near extinction and aquaculture is identified as a solution to address this gab. Aquaculture has played a critical role in global food security and has grown ever – since 1970 by 7.5% yearly. Aquaculture businesses in South Africa are producing less than 1% of global production. Aquaculture small businesses are not profitable and „business as usual approach‟ is not enough to develop viable businesses. New innovative ways of producing more food and improving nutrition are essential. Continuous Improvement and Innovation (C I& I) is a business management strategy that concentrates thinking and action on the things that makes the real difference and was identified as a solution to disrupt businesses with the aim of achieving improvement and innovation and acquire profit. The study was conducted in five provinces of South Africa using mixed-method research methodology underpinned by paradigms, methodology, core methods and CI & I tools. Focus groups, in - depth - interviews, field notes, questionnaire and experiment were used as data collection instruments. The CI & I model is made of eight steps which are focus, situation analysis, impact and influence, action design, action implementation, performance assessment, creation & synthesis and refocus. The results showed that 30 projects were interested in the study and the opportunity of being involved in the study was high with mean score of 9 articulating that CI & I was a teaching and guiding process and it gave hope. Cycle 1 revealed that 87% partners focused on owning viable and sustainable businesses that generated income and created employment. In situational analysis, 93% of partners needed to secure market; 70% articulated lack of water; 13% reported lack of electricity. Impact and Influence revealed that 68% projects reported securing market access and improving water access as opportunities with high impact and influence. A total of 64% reported improving feed supply as critical; 54% increase number of ponds; 50% obtain equipments; 43% improve skills; 39% reported preventing predation and increasing number of fish; 36% obtain funding; 32% improving security; 21% establish accredited processing facility and improve electrical works. According to the profit driver tree the strongest drivers in the study were marketing, genetics, nutrition and management. In action design: the action was to secure local market via a questionnaire, to secure off- takes at a required price, branding, design business cards and posters and advertise on radio, shops and billboards. The action to have water access was to drill boreholes and obtain water licenses. The action for improving feed supply was to determine the effect of locally available food such as live earthworms and tilapia fish on the growth of catfish and demonstrate the applicability of the model in real life researches. The action for improving technical skills was attending practical training. The action for improving security was to install security fencing and also purchase equipments for fish harvesting and processing. The action to obtain funding was to apply to government, banks and other private businesses (sponsors). Action implementation: Business stickers were designed and a date on local radio station was secured, social media page was created. The site where experiment was conducted was prepared and experimental materials were out-sourced and the experiment was conducted. Dates were secured for the training venue and the trainer. Quotations were obtained for the fencing and some partners were designing a trapping machine. Communication was not received on the progress of the construction of fish processing plant. In performance assessment: market access, signed orders for potential customers were secured. Signed orders for market liaison to fit product to market was also achieved. Small- scale partners had a secured market due to the newly completed processing plant. The results from earthworm experiment were analyzed. Creation & Synthesis revealed that 22% of the project were not registered and lacked funding; and they needed to obtain funding and develop a business plan. 27% of partners required funding to realize businesses growth. Refocus was to obtain funding and be involved in the development of a business plan. The study contributed to real life experiences of farmers in catfish farming who worked on a rigorous and spiraling CI & I model. Issues such as market, funding, nutrition, management and electricity were strongest drivers that required attention for small business to become profitable and sustainable. The outcomes would contribute significantly to aquaculture policy makers and managers in South Africa for improved development of the sector.