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Precious Manomano Herald Reporter
A total of 70 irrigation schemes with functional fishponds have been earmarked for fingerling stocking for the 2023-2024 season as the Government scales up efforts to boost fish production.
About 382 710 fingerlings are required to produce 92 tonnes in the next season and beneficiaries will be trained in fish farming.
Agricultural and Rural Advisory Services in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development indicated 21 irrigation schemes in Masvingo require 131 710 fingerlings to produce 31,62 tonnes.
In Manicaland, three irrigation schemes require 17 200 fingerlings to produce 4,13 tonnes, while in Matabeleland North six irrigation schemes require 52 000 fingerlings to produce 12,48 tonnes.
Twelve irrigation schemes in Matabeleland South require 26 000 fingerlings to produce 6,24 tonnes.
In Mashonaland Central, two irrigation schemes will require 7 000 fingerlings to produce 1,68 tonnes. Mashonaland West targets six irrigation schemes and 44 000 fingerlings are needed to produce 10,56 tonnes.
Government is pulling out all stops to ensure the fish farming industry grows to contribute effectively to the national agenda of boosting food and nutrition security and income generation in line with the Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Strategy.
The introduction of community gardens that accommodate two fish ponds and the various dam projects currently underway across the country has given birth to many fish hotspots that have the potential to turn commercial and generate income for the participating households.
This has seen the Government increasing the number of fish ponds by 29 percent from 5 634 fish ponds in 2022 to 7 247 this year.
In a recent interview,Tobacco Farmers Union Trust president Mr Victor Mariranyika said farmers need to diversify, adding that several individuals are earning a living through aquaculture.
“A lot of people are earning a living through aquaculture. This is a positive step towards diversity, improving nutrition and incomes.
“We appreciate the initiative and we hope the majority will benefit a lot from this strategy,” he said.
“Fish farming has many benefits to individuals. We encourage farmers who are close to water bodies to use the opportunity because a farmer needs to diversify farming to make profits.”
John Khumalo of Matabeleland expressed excitement on the move by the Government to come up with a law on fisheries as farmers in the region were being short-changed by bogus suppliers of fingerlings who were supplying poor quality.
Mr Khumalo said the Government’s initiative will uplift farmers.
“We have fish farmers here in Matabeleland, but most were not harvesting to their expectations largely because of some unscrupulous individuals who were supplying substandard fingerlings that were not giving the expected yields,” he said.
“Fish farmers are therefore extremely excited by the Government’s move on the Presidential Fisheries Programme as it will result in us getting quality fingerlings which will help us contribute towards agriculture.”
The Government is set to support more than 50 000 fish farmers as a way to boost productivity so that they realise better returns from fish value chains.
Fish farming is the fastest growing food producing sector and can be produced more efficiently and cost effectively.
The Presidential Fisheries Programme is set to be introduced in 1 200 dams across the country with 50 000 fingerlings set to be released into each dam by 2025.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter