Southern Illinois University

Carbondale, Illinois

Aquaculture, the rearing of aquatic plants and animals, is an alternative form of agriculture that holds considerable potential in the northern Mississippi Delta Region. Aquaculture is positioned to expand in the northern Mississippi Delta region due to such factors as an abundance of water resources, preva-lence of clay soils ideal for pond construction, availability of large tracts of land at relatively reasonable prices, proximity to large markets, and local presence of university research, demon-stration and outreach programs. Currently, there is minimal local feed manufacturing, supply and equipment outlets, or processing capability. Rapid expansion of the aquaculture industry could occur once the infrastructure is more fully in place.

The goal of the proposed program is to promote and facilitate the retention, expansion and sustainability of the aquaculture industry in the northern Mississippi Delta region.

The objectives of the program are to assess the status of existing aquaculture businesses, develop strategies to increase profitability, determine financial implications of species and/or technology diversification, and provide technical and business support of individuals considering aquaculture as a business or for those currently in production. Sensitivity analyses of price and production factors will determine which factors affect profits the most, and summarize their effects on profit potential. Potential revenues feasible with an expansion will be compared with projected costs. Estimates of break-even analyses with new species and/or technology will be provided.

To provide technical and business support for individuals considering aquaculture as a new business or for those currently in production, two workshops will be developed and presented.

For current producers, a workshop will be offered on conducting, interpreting and benefiting from financial analyses of existing businesses. For those consi-dering aquaculture as a new business, a workshop on "Starting an Aquaculture Business" will be offered. Information will be provided on various physical, biolo-gical and financial factors to be consi-dered in starting and operating an aquaculture operation.

The proposed project will enhance the profitability and sustainability of existing aquaculture production systems. It will provide a diversification option to farmers currently in livestock or row crop pro-duction. This project will provide opportu-nities for growth and employment in the food and agricultural sector in the region, and will contribute to the economic growth of many rural communities in the region. The project will also serve as a model for assisting other types of small farm enterprises.

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