Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare in Mudzi
GOVERNMENT has unveiled plans to expand fish farming under the Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme into drier regions such as Matabeleland provinces, saying aquaculture is best suited to areas with underground water and high temperatures that support faster fish growth cycles.
This emerged during an ongoing fish farming training programme at Mr Emmanuel Charehwa’s homestead in Muchero Village, Ward 5, Mudzi District, where farmers were trained on fish pond construction, fingerling management and production systems under the national aquaculture rollout programme.
The initiative is part of Government’s broader strategy to position aquaculture as a pillar of rural industrialisation, climate resilience and food security through the Blue Economy framework.
Speaking during the training, Director of Livestock and Fisheries Production in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Mr Milton Makumbe, said Government was scaling up fish farming beyond traditional production zones into arid and semi-arid regions.
He said areas such as Mudzi District, Matabeleland South and Matabeleland North had strong potential for aquaculture development due to high temperatures and the availability of underground water, which create ideal conditions for rapid fish growth.
“Our plan as Government is to expand fish farming to regions such as the Matabeleland provinces and other drier areas where there is underground water availability,” he said.
“As long as there is a reliable underground water source such as a borehole, fish farming is possible and, in fact, becomes more efficient in warmer environments.”
Mr Makumbe said higher heat units in dry regions accelerate fish metabolism and growth, making aquaculture more commercially viable than in cooler regions.
“In warmer areas, fish such as tilapia grow much faster. Instead of taking up to eight months to reach market size in cooler regions, in drier and hotter regions the production cycle can be reduced to around six months,” he said.
“This allows farmers to reach market-preferred weights of between 400 and 500 grammes in a shorter period, improving turnover and profitability.”
He said the Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme was supporting farmers with fingerlings, technical expertise in fish pond construction and management and, where resources permit, borehole drilling to guarantee water supplies for production.
Fish and Aquaculture Technician Mr Thomas Bester led the practical training session, demonstrating key principles of fish pond development and production management.
He urged farmers to prioritise proper pond construction and site selection to ensure long-term productivity.
“A fish pond is a long-term investment. Farmers must ensure proper siting, soil suitability and water retention capacity before construction begins,” he said.
Mr Bester said sourcing quality fingerlings remained critical for successful production cycles.
“Farmers should always purchase fingerlings from certified suppliers. This ensures good survival rates, uniform growth and reduced losses during production,” he said.
He also warned farmers against poor handling practices during the transportation of fingerlings.
“Fingerlings are very sensitive during transportation. They must be handled carefully, kept under stable conditions and transported within the shortest possible time to reduce stress and mortality,” he said.
Upon stocking, he said, farmers must allow fingerlings to acclimatise before releasing them into ponds.
“Acclimatisation is important. Farmers should gradually introduce fingerlings to pond water conditions to avoid shock and ensure high survival rates,” he said.
Mr Bester said proper feeding regimes and water quality management were essential for achieving optimal growth.
“Feeding must be consistent and based on the size and stage of the fish. Overfeeding affects water quality, while underfeeding slows growth,” he said.
“With proper management, farmers can achieve market-ready fish within six months in warmer regions, which is a key advantage for commercial production.”
Ward 4 Agricultural Business Advisory Officer Mr Mark Tsabora said the ongoing aquaculture drive was demonstrating how rural communities could unlock economic value from underground water resources, even in regions traditionally regarded as unsuitable for fish production.
He said the model being rolled out under the Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme was helping farmers move from dependence on rainfall to planned, climate-smart production systems anchored on available water sources.
“Fish farming is no longer confined to areas with abundant surface water. What we are seeing now is a deliberate shift, where communities are utilising boreholes and underground water to establish viable production units,” he said.
Mr Tsabora said the approach was already being replicated across districts, with farmers increasingly investing in water access infrastructure to support year-round aquaculture enterprises.
He said the integration of aquaculture into mixed farming systems was strengthening household resilience while opening new income streams for rural families.
Host farmer Mr Emmanuel Charehwa said the training programme had reshaped his understanding of agriculture under changing climate conditions.
“The training has shown us that agriculture is no longer only about rainfall,” he said.
“We are now learning how to integrate underground water into productive farming, especially fish farming, which is proving to be a reliable enterprise in our area.”
He said the practical demonstrations had given farmers confidence to venture into aquaculture as a business rather than a subsistence activity.
