More Fish, more Mahasoa? A Quantitative Analysis of Food Security & Poverty Reduction in Rural Small-scale Aquaculture in Madagascar

Abstract: The role of food-producing sectors such as agriculture and aquaculture in the development process is debated and while some consider industrial production to be the answer, others suggest that small-scale production can also make contributions to poverty reduction and food security. This thesis aims to shed light on these relationships by performing quantitative analyses of the small-scale freshwater aquaculture sector in six regions of Madagascar. By employing a multiple linear regression, the results of the first analysis indicate that the presence of extension services, the adoption of integrated production systems, and higher education levels are positively related to fish income generation. The binary logistic regression reveals that higher wealth levels, women in a decision-making position, fish consumption, and higher levels of education are positively associated with food security. Supporting the creation of extension services in the aquaculture sector and the development of linkages with the rest of the economy, increasing the adoption of integrated fish production systems, and investing in education to improve informed decision-making in the aquaculture sector and in households regarding fish consumption are the three main implications of the findings.