Categorical nomogram to estimate aquaponics production using Community-Based Participatory Research approach

Aquaponics offers sustainable alternatives for food production, but its complexity limits its adoption in communities without technical training. This study co-designed a categorical nomogram for projecting production in aquaponic systems using the Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach, in collaboration with the Chaparralunas Women’s Network for Peace, an organization of indigenous, afro-descendant, and rural women living in the municipality of Chaparral (Colombia). The nomogram scales were constructed using multivariate logarithmic regression; validation included the System Usability Scale (SUS) and relative error across three readings per participant, compared with a reference spreadsheet. The nomogram obtained a SUS score of 77.07% (good usability). Eighty-two percent of participants obtained a reading in less than 1 min with a relative error of less than 5%; whereas with the categorical scale, the error was zero in all cases. The CBPR approach facilitated the incorporation of cultural elements into the design, generating motivation and a desire to learn. The categorical nomogram is an effective tool for transferring aquaponics technology to developing communities.