Value-chain analysis: an assessment methodology to estimate Egyptian aquaculture sector performance

Egypt's aquaculture production (705,490 tonnes in 2009) is by far the largest of any African country and places it 11th in terms of global aquaculture production. The aquaculture sector in Egypt is now a mature one having developed over a period of more than 30 years, but the financial performance of the sector is not well understood or documented, even though value-chain analysis provides a methodological tool to do so. To provide a better understanding of the sector, a WorldFish Center study completed in September 2011 and funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, conducted a value-chain analysis of the pond fish farming sector. The sector concentrates on the production of tilapia with additional production of mullet, catfish and carp from earthen ponds. The study mapped the value-chain and showed that there is no processing and virtually no export of farmed fish, a short time-period from harvest to final consumption by the consumer (typically around one day) due to the live/fresh nature of all sales, and very low rates (< 1%) of post-harvest losses.