DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN AUTOMATIC WATER FISH POND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

1.1 Introduction

Fish farming in Nigeria is becoming one of the most lucrative entrepreneurial activities due to the low technology, low cost deployment investment and the 3 to 6 month harvesting cycles. The possibility of utilizing artificial plastic containers, concrete ponds or excavated ponds provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs to participate at different levels. While some focus on the production of fingerlings, other focus on the breeding of the fingerlings to market sizes and a lot of other focus on either the sale of this fish or the smoking and selling of the fish to consumers (Auburn, 2021). The use of artificial ponds however introduces a number of challenges as the pond owners must monitor and manage the water quality, the changing of the water and the feeding and feeding cycles of the fish. These processes have very significant impact on the growth and wellbeing of the fish as the use of a contained water environment leads to the buildup of toxic chemicals such as ammonia (Hargreaves et al., 2004).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Fisheries Resources Management is an initiative and strategies aimed at addressing the issue of how fish resources in a nation can be best shared between competing users within the broad context of ecologically sustainable development so that they can be managed on a sustainable basis (Davies et al, 2008). Hunger and malnutrition remain amongst the most devastating problems facing the world poor and needy. Nigeria is one of the developing countries affected by hunger, deprivation and abject poverty by its citizenry in spite of its enormous natural and human resources hence the need for proper fisheries resource management (Alamu et al, 2004). Nigeria is among the largest fish consumers in the world with over 1.5 million tons of fish consumed annually. Fish farming in Nigeria has it antecedents in the traditional African reciprocal, communal, technical, labour support/skills transfer system of about 10,000 years ago. Fish production from aquaculture accounted for about 96,000 metric tons in year 2000, while only 20,000 metric tons in 1994 (FAO, 2002). Integrated resource management involving fish is defined broadly as the concurrent or sequential linkage between two or more human activity system under proper regulation, of which at least one is aquaculture.

Furthermore, the linkages between aquaculture and human activities involve not only agriculture ( i.e. crops, livestock, irrigation dams canals) but also include roles in sanitation (night soil, septage or other forms of human excreta re-use, sewage treatment), nutrient recovery (hydroponic-fish, breweries) and energy recovery (culture in heated effluents of power plants, dairies, etc) (Prein, 2002). In contrast, theoreticians used to differentiate Integrated Fish resource management from mixed farming, in which production sub-systems of a farm are not mutually supportive and do not depend on each other. The principle of integrated resource management involves farming of fish along with livestock and agricultural crops. This type of farming offers great efficiency in resource utilization, as waste or by-product from one system is effectively recycled. It also enables effective utilization of available farming space for maximizing production. In Nigeria, Integrated fisheries resource management has been reported in many states of the federation in which 50% of fish farmers integrate, poultry, piggery or livestock with fish production, while integrated fish cum crop production is on the rise also in several states. According to FAO (2002) the essence of integrated management system is to increase the productivity of fish as to meet the challenges of food shortage and reducing the unemployment rate in Nigeria. Socio-economic conditions should be considered when developing integrated fisheries management systems.

The development of a diversified economy depends on the harmonious interactions between socio-economic conditions, agricultural productions and regional environmental conditions. In any part of the country, the type and level of integration depends on the prevalent environmental conditions, social norms, cultural values and religious factors. For example in the northern part of the country, fish cum pig integration is not advisable because of religions factors (Ajana, 2003). The agricultural enterprise to be combined and their level of intensity determine the type of integration. Fish culture can be extensive, semi-intensive or intensive. The semi-intensive earthen pond fish culture is the most suitable integrated aquaculture system because of the natural ecosystem that can conveniently accommodate both crop and livestock production. Apart from market forces, demands for agricultural products should be put into consideration before establishing any integrated resource management enterprise in any area (Csavas, 1992).

Employment in the primary capture fisheries and aquaculture production sectors in 1998 is estimated to be 300 million people worldwide while the number of people dependent on fisheries as an income was estimated at 200 million. of these the vast majority cannot even afford to eat fish they catch and handle. Fishers are often demeaned and exploited by those who can afford to buy their crops, which leads to the disintegration of traditional communities and increasingly marginalized rural societies. Consequent upon this there was massive rural-urban drift leading to youth migrating to urban centres for “greener pasture” leaving the old people in the rural area. Unfortunately gainful employment is increasingly scarce in the cities. This has in no small way created social problems and in fact to the level of social unrest in Nigeria.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation reveals the problem of the Automatic Water Fish Pond Management System research work which cannot detect a change in the water level of fish pond and refill the water to the required level, change in water temperature and control it, and any intrusion into the fish pond perimeters and alert the responsible authorities.

Fish pond resource management system produces high yields with low input, with the fish receiving limited, if any, supplementary feed. In contrast, the livestock on the integrated farms, which includes chickens and pigs, is reared intensively, and antimicrobial agents are used as growth promoters and for prophylactic and therapeutic treatment. Within integrated fisheries resource management system, antimicrobials, their residues, and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria may enter the fish ponds through animal manure and/or excess feeding and are potential sources of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. In recent years, a number of studies on the impact of integrated fisheries resource management system on household nutrition have been conducted.

 1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The main aim of the study is to Design and Implement an Automatic Water Fish Pond Management System that will automatically monitor and manage the fish pond and its perimeter. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows to design and develop an application that will:

1. Detect a change in the water level of fish pond and refill the water to the required level.
2. Detect a change in water temperature and control it
3. Detect any intrusion into the fish pond perimeters and alert the responsible authorities.

1.5 Significance of Study

The following are the significance of this study:

1. The findings from this study will educate on the processes involved in fish pond management system. It will also expatiate on the advantages and the disadvantages.
2. This research will be a contribution to the body of literature in the area of the effect of personality trait on student's academic performance, thereby constituting the empirical literature for future research in the subject area.

1.6 Scope of the Study

This scope of this research is focused on the Design and Implementation of an Automatic Water Fish Pond Management System.

1.7 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).

1.8 Definition of Terms

Automation: The replacement of human workers by technology; A system in which a workplace or process has been converted to one that replaced or ministries human labour with electronic or mechanical equipment.

Admission: The process of accepting students for study at an institution.

Processing: To deal with somebody or something according to an established procedure.

System: Set of computer components which are an assembly of computer Hardware, Software and peripherals functioning together.

Computerized: Convert to computer - based system to install or start using a computer system to organize, control, or automate something.