Online Reporter
Theseus Shambare, Harare Bureau
OVER 2 million free tilapia (Nile breams) fingerlings have been distributed nationwide since August last year to date, under the Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme.
On that trajectory the set target of 2,2 million fingerlings by May will likely be met sooner.
Fish stocking is done during warm conditions from August and halted during winter starting first week of May when temperatures drop, with tilapia (breams) being considered the most ideal species for intensive production.
This initiative aims to boost fish production, enhance food security and improve livelihoods, especially in rural areas.
At least 1 220 dams were certified for stocking, while all irrigation business units, youth business units, school business units, village business units and registered individuals are benefiting from the programme.
With the support from the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), communities have been receiving training from agricultural experts in practicing sustainable fish production in both, ponds and dams.
In an interview Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Davis Marapira said the distribution of the fingerlings is ongoing.
“Fingerlings distribution is going on well in all provinces. The President wants everyone to be food and nutrition secure and he sends us to the communities with these projects so that people of Zimbabwe do not depend on donor handouts but rather become income generators. Our thrust is to ensure that we create rural communities that are industrialised.”
The Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme, he said, is a key pillar in efforts to empower communities and ensure sustainable food production.
In a separate interview, on the sidelines of recent three-day Fisheries Bill consultations programme organised by the Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources Department (FARD), in collaboration with the with the FAO under the Fish for Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (FISH4ACP) initiative in Kariba, FARD director Mr Milton Makumbe said progress has been made in fingerling distribution.
“Since January this year, we have distributed a total of 2 067 550 fingerling. Dam and fish pond stocking is now at its peak as we roll out the programme countrywide to beat our May deadline.
“We are committed to providing the necessary resources and support to make this initiative a success,” said Mr Makumbe.
The dam stocking programme has seen a cumulative total of 724 000 fingerlings distributed across the country’s provinces.
Last week, 4 000 fingerlings were stocked in Matabeleland South.
Provinces such as Mashonaland Central have received 160 000 fingerlings, Mashonaland East 55 000 and Mashonaland West 90 000.
Matabeleland North has received 77 000 fingerlings, and Masvingo 105 000. Midlands Province has received 145 000 fingerlings.
Other provinces have also made strides in pond stocking.
Masvingo has 41 ponds with 153 000 fingerlings, and Midlands has 59 ponds with 238 500 fingerlings.
Matabeleland North has 57 ponds with 70 500 fingerlings, while Matabeleland South has 39 ponds with 43 200 fingerlings. Harare Metropolitan has 182 ponds with 172 000 fingerlings.
It is believed the aquaculture sector has the potential to become a US$1 billion economy.
This has seen the Government partnering the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations to launch a US$500 000 technical co-operation programme.
Under the programme state-of-the-art hatcheries are being constructed across the country to accelerate fish breeding and production.
The partnership will see the country producing 166 million fingerlings per season, up from the current nine million.
Zimbabwe has an annual requirement of 60 000 tonnes of fish, while current production stands at around 33 000 tonnes.
Through the Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme, it is expected that production will jump to 55 000 tonnes by end of year.
