Francis Phiri - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Francis Phiri

Evaluating the impacts of integrated conservation as a REDD+ strategy in Mato Grosso (Brazilian A... more Evaluating the impacts of integrated conservation as a REDD+ strategy in Mato Grosso (Brazilian Amazon

International Journal of Scientific Research in Environmental Sciences, 2016

Biodiversity conservation within forests depends, in part, on management practices that restore o... more Biodiversity conservation within forests depends, in part, on management practices that restore or maintain plant community diversity and function. Because many plant communities are adapted to natural disturbances, selective harvesting has potential to meet this need. This study was conducted to determine the impact of selective harvesting on tree species regeneration abundance, richness and diversity in Chidenga forest co-management block in Liwonde forest reserve, Malawi after four years of harvesting. The study constituted two treatments: harvested area (selective harvesting) and non-harvested area (control). The data obtained was analysed using Rẻnyi diversity profile in Biodiversity R. The results show that there were substantial variations between the treatments on the studied variables. Harvested area had higher tree species regenerants abundance (6088±452 ha-1) than non-harvested area (5324±364 ha-1). Harvested area had a higher Hα (2.64) at 0-alpha than Hα (2.48) for non-harvested area, indicating that harvested area had the higher tree species richness than non-harvested area in the understory. Furthermore, in the understory, harvested area had higher profile, 2.64 to 0.33 from 0-Alpha to infinity, than nonharvested area, 2.48 to 0.21 from 0-Alpha to infinity. This indicates that harvested area was more diverse than non-harvested area. In the overstory, harvested area had individual tree species evenly distributed than in non-harvested area. This signifies a healthy or good ecosystem. Therefore, it can be suggested that selective harvesting has a significant role in conservation of the forest resource base, and may be promoted for sustainable management of forest co-management blocks.

International Journal of Aquaculture, 2015

Annals of Reviews & Research, 2018

A study was conducted to compare the growth potential of Tilapia rendalli at three different stoc... more A study was conducted to compare the growth potential of Tilapia rendalli at three different stocking densities, using different rearing facilities. T. rendalli fry of 0.9±0.1g average weight were stocked in tanks and hapa-in-ponds at the stocking density of 30, 60 and 90 fry/m 3. Locally made feed (CP-18%) was administered at 5% body weight three times a day for three months. Monthly sampling was conducted to assess growth by measuring weight and length for specific growth rate (SGR), average daily gain (ADG), weight gain (WG), and biomass (BM). The results of the study showed a significantly higher (P < 0.05) growth rate in low stocking density (30 fry/m 3) as compared to 60 and 90 fry/m 3. There was a highly significant (P < 0.05) growth rate from hapas mounted in pond rearing facility as compared to tanks. There was no significant difference in profitability between the two rearing facilities (P > 0.05) as well as within the stocking densities (P > 0.05). The results of this study have a significant contribution towards stocking densities as well as rearing facilities used by hatchery operators. It is recommended that hapas mounted in pond fry rearing for T. rendalli fingerling production is most ideal. The results of the present study suggested that production of good quality fingerlings at stocking densities of 30 fry/m 3 must be adopted in the culture of T. rendalli as fish grows faster than the other stocking densities of 60 and 90 fry/m 3 as demonstrated in this study.

Journal of Aquaculture Research & Development

This study was conducted to analyse the economic profitability of tilapia farming in Malawi and C... more This study was conducted to analyse the economic profitability of tilapia farming in Malawi and China, using data from 20 farmers both in Malawi and Guangxi Province, People's Republic of China. Application of enterprise budget for profitability analysis showed that profits for tilapia were significantly different (p ≤ 0.05) between the two countries with Malawi registering a bigger benefit-cost ratio of 1.61 than 1.20 for China. However, 3 farms in Malawi posted losses during the production cycle. Breakeven price was 2.00forMalawiagainst2.00 for Malawi against 2.00forMalawiagainst1.26 for China. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the influence of changes in price, feed, labour and fixed cost on net profit. Holding all conditions constant, sensitive coefficient for price was relatively high for Malawian farms at 2.63 followed by feed, labour and fixed cost at-0.70,-0.36 and-0.32 respectively. Similarly for China, price showed the highest elasticity of 5.96 compared to-3.65,-0.67,-0.27 of feed, fixed cost and labour respectively. For the farms that did not make profits, application of the shutdown rule indicated that the farms were making surplus gross margins hence could continue operating (Price ≥ Average Variable Cost; and Revenue ≥ Total Variable Cost). The present study has demonstrated that differences in input intensification result in different gross revenues since yield is a function of stocking density, feed input, labour and other production inputs. Irrespective of the intensity of input use, farmers still make profits, thus tilapia production is a viable enterprise in both countries.

Journal of Aquaculture Research & Development

In the present study, stochastic frontier production function was applied to estimate both the te... more In the present study, stochastic frontier production function was applied to estimate both the technical efficiency scores and determinants of inefficiency for 20 tilapia farms apiece in Malawi and China. The study used the Cobb-Douglas model in which efficiency estimates showed that tilapia farmers in Malawi were more technically inefficient than farmers in China, with mean efficiency scores of 47% and 91% respectively. With exception of aquaculture experience, all the inefficiency determinants were positive for Malawian farms even though none of the coefficients was significant. For Chinese tilapia farmers, age (significant), household size and education had negative signs except aquaculture experience. The Malawian tilapia industry need technology innovations in order to reduce the existing 53% yield gap, which can ideally be introduction or development of new strains of superior quality, enhanced use of all-male tilapia, improvement in both nursing and grow-out technologies as well as use of quality fish feed.

Evaluating the impacts of integrated conservation as a REDD+ strategy in Mato Grosso (Brazilian A... more Evaluating the impacts of integrated conservation as a REDD+ strategy in Mato Grosso (Brazilian Amazon

International Journal of Scientific Research in Environmental Sciences, 2016

Biodiversity conservation within forests depends, in part, on management practices that restore o... more Biodiversity conservation within forests depends, in part, on management practices that restore or maintain plant community diversity and function. Because many plant communities are adapted to natural disturbances, selective harvesting has potential to meet this need. This study was conducted to determine the impact of selective harvesting on tree species regeneration abundance, richness and diversity in Chidenga forest co-management block in Liwonde forest reserve, Malawi after four years of harvesting. The study constituted two treatments: harvested area (selective harvesting) and non-harvested area (control). The data obtained was analysed using Rẻnyi diversity profile in Biodiversity R. The results show that there were substantial variations between the treatments on the studied variables. Harvested area had higher tree species regenerants abundance (6088±452 ha-1) than non-harvested area (5324±364 ha-1). Harvested area had a higher Hα (2.64) at 0-alpha than Hα (2.48) for non-harvested area, indicating that harvested area had the higher tree species richness than non-harvested area in the understory. Furthermore, in the understory, harvested area had higher profile, 2.64 to 0.33 from 0-Alpha to infinity, than nonharvested area, 2.48 to 0.21 from 0-Alpha to infinity. This indicates that harvested area was more diverse than non-harvested area. In the overstory, harvested area had individual tree species evenly distributed than in non-harvested area. This signifies a healthy or good ecosystem. Therefore, it can be suggested that selective harvesting has a significant role in conservation of the forest resource base, and may be promoted for sustainable management of forest co-management blocks.

International Journal of Aquaculture, 2015

Annals of Reviews & Research, 2018

A study was conducted to compare the growth potential of Tilapia rendalli at three different stoc... more A study was conducted to compare the growth potential of Tilapia rendalli at three different stocking densities, using different rearing facilities. T. rendalli fry of 0.9±0.1g average weight were stocked in tanks and hapa-in-ponds at the stocking density of 30, 60 and 90 fry/m 3. Locally made feed (CP-18%) was administered at 5% body weight three times a day for three months. Monthly sampling was conducted to assess growth by measuring weight and length for specific growth rate (SGR), average daily gain (ADG), weight gain (WG), and biomass (BM). The results of the study showed a significantly higher (P < 0.05) growth rate in low stocking density (30 fry/m 3) as compared to 60 and 90 fry/m 3. There was a highly significant (P < 0.05) growth rate from hapas mounted in pond rearing facility as compared to tanks. There was no significant difference in profitability between the two rearing facilities (P > 0.05) as well as within the stocking densities (P > 0.05). The results of this study have a significant contribution towards stocking densities as well as rearing facilities used by hatchery operators. It is recommended that hapas mounted in pond fry rearing for T. rendalli fingerling production is most ideal. The results of the present study suggested that production of good quality fingerlings at stocking densities of 30 fry/m 3 must be adopted in the culture of T. rendalli as fish grows faster than the other stocking densities of 60 and 90 fry/m 3 as demonstrated in this study.

Journal of Aquaculture Research & Development

This study was conducted to analyse the economic profitability of tilapia farming in Malawi and C... more This study was conducted to analyse the economic profitability of tilapia farming in Malawi and China, using data from 20 farmers both in Malawi and Guangxi Province, People's Republic of China. Application of enterprise budget for profitability analysis showed that profits for tilapia were significantly different (p ≤ 0.05) between the two countries with Malawi registering a bigger benefit-cost ratio of 1.61 than 1.20 for China. However, 3 farms in Malawi posted losses during the production cycle. Breakeven price was 2.00forMalawiagainst2.00 for Malawi against 2.00forMalawiagainst1.26 for China. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the influence of changes in price, feed, labour and fixed cost on net profit. Holding all conditions constant, sensitive coefficient for price was relatively high for Malawian farms at 2.63 followed by feed, labour and fixed cost at-0.70,-0.36 and-0.32 respectively. Similarly for China, price showed the highest elasticity of 5.96 compared to-3.65,-0.67,-0.27 of feed, fixed cost and labour respectively. For the farms that did not make profits, application of the shutdown rule indicated that the farms were making surplus gross margins hence could continue operating (Price ≥ Average Variable Cost; and Revenue ≥ Total Variable Cost). The present study has demonstrated that differences in input intensification result in different gross revenues since yield is a function of stocking density, feed input, labour and other production inputs. Irrespective of the intensity of input use, farmers still make profits, thus tilapia production is a viable enterprise in both countries.

Journal of Aquaculture Research & Development

In the present study, stochastic frontier production function was applied to estimate both the te... more In the present study, stochastic frontier production function was applied to estimate both the technical efficiency scores and determinants of inefficiency for 20 tilapia farms apiece in Malawi and China. The study used the Cobb-Douglas model in which efficiency estimates showed that tilapia farmers in Malawi were more technically inefficient than farmers in China, with mean efficiency scores of 47% and 91% respectively. With exception of aquaculture experience, all the inefficiency determinants were positive for Malawian farms even though none of the coefficients was significant. For Chinese tilapia farmers, age (significant), household size and education had negative signs except aquaculture experience. The Malawian tilapia industry need technology innovations in order to reduce the existing 53% yield gap, which can ideally be introduction or development of new strains of superior quality, enhanced use of all-male tilapia, improvement in both nursing and grow-out technologies as well as use of quality fish feed.