Community opportunities in commercial agriculture: Possibilities and challenges
Abstract
Aquaculture has potential to contribute towards food and nutrition security, job creation and
income for South African communities, provided that the challenges and limitations for their
participation in commercial aquaculture value chains can be overcome. Most communities lack
investment funding and enter the industry from a base whereby they do not have the
knowledge, technical skills, managerial capacity and marketing know-how for aquaculture.
Partnerships with established aquaculture companies and entrepreneurs provide the best
opportunities for bringing communities into mainstream commercial aquaculture. The
partnerships need to include the sharing of relevant knowledge, technical and managerial skills
for aquaculture and marketing. Partnerships based on closely knit shareholdership
arrangements appear to hold the best chance for successful and sustainable community
participation in commercial aquaculture.