Evaluation of the Performance of Government-Supported Fish Ponds under the National Fadama III Programme in Kano State

The National Fadama III programme has funded fish pond construction and inputs for farmers across several states, yet the post-project performance and sustainability of these investments have rarely been systematically evaluated. This study evaluates the production performance, operational continuity, and economic outcomes of 45 government-supported fish ponds established under the National Fadama III Programme in Kano State, North West Nigeria, two to four years after project completion. Data were collected through farm visits, interviews with beneficiary farmers, and review of project implementation records held by the Kano State Fadama Coordination Office. Parameters assessed included pond operational status, fish species cultured, stocking density, feed type used, average annual production, and gross margin. Results revealed that 62% of the 45 ponds remained in active production at the time of evaluation, while 38% had been abandoned or converted to other uses. Active farms reported average annual production of 1.8 tonnes per pond, significantly below the project design target of 3.5 tonnes. Feed cost recovery was the most commonly cited reason for production below target. Beneficiaries who had received follow-up extension visits after project completion were significantly more likely to be in continuous production. The study identifies inadequate post-implementation support as the primary driver of programme sustainability failure and recommends mandatory two-year extension support packages for all subsequent government-funded aquaculture infrastructure programmes in Kano State.

Keywords: Fadama III, government fish ponds, programme evaluation, aquaculture sustainability, Kano State