Potential Application of Linear Programming Method and Solid‐State Fermentation in Improving the Quality of Fish Feed and Profits of Small‐Scale Nile Tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) Farming in Tanzania

ABSTRACT The scarcity of affordable and high‐quality fish feeds limits aquaculture development in many developing countries. The present study assessed the use of linear programming (LP) techniques for formulating Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) diets and solid‐state fermentation (SSF) technology to improve their nutritional value. The formulated diets produced using LP and improved through SSF technology were analyzed for their chemical composition. The combined techniques enable the production of high‐quality fish feeds at low cost of 0.4 USD per kilogram. The resulting diets contained 36.2% of crude protein and 5.6% of crude lipid, and adequate minerals and essential amino acids and minerals align with Nile tilapia requirements. The fermented feeds provided optimum levels of lysine (15 g/kg), tryptophan (3.59 g/kg), and methionine‐cysteine (11.25 g/kg), supporting healthy growth in juvenile tilapia. Overall, the model provides practical guidance for small‐scale fish farmers and local feed producers in Tanzania to develop cost‐effective, nutritionally balanced feeds.