Research Article
Typology of Freshwater Aquaculture Farms in Northern Senegal: A Mixed Data and Hierarchical Clustering Approach
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 5, October 2026
Pages:
166-180
Received:
9 August 2026
Accepted:
19 August 2026
Published:
9 September 2026
Abstract: Understanding the diversity of aquaculture production systems is essential to designing effective development strategies and targeted public policies. In Senegal, however, few quantitative typological approaches have been used to characterize freshwater fish farms. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize the main types of freshwater fish farms using a multivariate approach combining mixed-factorial data analysis and hierarchical principal component analysis. A descriptive analysis of thirty-six farms located in the main production areas of northern Senegal was conducted using quantitative and qualitative variables describing production infrastructure, farming systems, water resources, feeding practices, energy sources, hatchery availability and producer characteristics. The first five dimensions of mixed-factorial data analysis, which explained 59% of the total data variability, were used in the cluster analysis. Four distinct farm typologies were identified: river cage farming systems, groundwater-based tank farming systems, river-fed pond farming systems, and integrated hatchery farming systems. Farm differentiation was primarily driven by production infrastructure, water sources, feeding strategies, hatchery activities, and the level of production integration. The age of fish farmers and their aquaculture experience contributed little to the classification. The typology provides a valuable framework for tailoring extension services, investment priorities, and development policies to the different farm profiles. Additionally, this methodological approach can be applied to other aquaculture contexts and can be strengthened by the integration of economic, zootechnical, health, and environmental indicators in order to promote more resilient and sustainable aquaculture development.
Abstract: Understanding the diversity of aquaculture production systems is essential to designing effective development strategies and targeted public policies. In Senegal, however, few quantitative typological approaches have been used to characterize freshwater fish farms. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize the main types of fresh...
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Research Article
The Performance of Three Submergence-Tolerant Rice Varieties at Different Agro-ecological Submergence Zones in a Riverine Grassland
Navo Yambasu,
Richard Andrew Cooke,
Mohamed Matthew Blango*
,
Alieu Mohamed Bah
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 5, October 2026
Pages:
181-192
Received:
13 August 2026
Accepted:
24 August 2026
Published:
20 September 2026
Abstract: The study was conducted in a riverine grassland along the river Taia/Jong, Njala university, Southern Sierra Leone. It was undertaken with the aim of investigating the performance of three submergence-tolerant rice varieties at different elevation zones in a Riverine grassland. The experimental design had two factors (three rice varieties and six elevation zones) arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in each of two blocks. The rice varieties were Indochine Blanc (Deepwater Floating Rice), FARO 66 and FARO 67 respectively. Yield responses to submergence depth were non-linear and variety?specific: FARO 66 and FARO 67 peaked at intermediate depths (76–143 cm), while Indochine Blanc shows a flatter, lower response with slight improvement under deep water. The study concluded that the strong variety?by?submergence interaction (p < 0.05) revealed that flooding did not act as a blanket constraint, but rather as a filter that distinguished genotypes by their tolerance capacity. While the FARO varieties generally performed best at 143 cm, these average trends were conditional on statistical context. For growers in flood?variable environments, the path to optimal yield lay in deliberately pairing water-depth management with the natural submergence?tolerance strengths of the chosen rice variety. FARO 66 is recommended for areas with stable shallow to medium flooding (up to 150 cm), while FARO 67 is preferable where water levels fluctuate frequently. Indochine Blanc is not suitable for commercial production under the tested conditions due to consistently low yields.
Abstract: The study was conducted in a riverine grassland along the river Taia/Jong, Njala university, Southern Sierra Leone. It was undertaken with the aim of investigating the performance of three submergence-tolerant rice varieties at different elevation zones in a Riverine grassland. The experimental design had two factors (three rice varieties and six e...
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