Sundaymail Editor
Theseus Shambare
Data-driven strategies are at the heart of Zimbabwe’s plan to develop a US$1 billion aquaculture sector and enhance its contribution to the national economy.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources Department (FARD) director Mr Milton Makumbe revealed this ahead of the National Aquaculture Sector Survey Results Dissemination Workshop scheduled for February 5, 2025, in Kadoma.
The multi-sector workshop, to be hosted by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, will present findings from a comprehensive survey conducted in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
The survey focuses on aquaculture farmers in five provinces: Manicaland, Midlands, Mashonaland East, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South.
“Its primary objective is to feed into the current growth trajectory which we want the aquaculture sector to grow towards, that is to become a US$1 billion sector,” said Mr Makumbe.
“The data collected will be a valuable resource for various stakeholders. The aim is to ensure that our fingerling producers, fish feed producers and service providers are in a position to make use of this data so that they are able to channel the necessary efforts towards the respective provinces.”
The survey will also help inform strategic decisions regarding the placement of fingerling hubs.
“We are able to identify areas where we have the highest density of fish farmers so that we are able to bring fingerlings closer to those farmers and to ensure that those farmers are able to produce as much fish as possible at the least cost,” said Mr Makumbe.
“We want to ensure that as a sector we are better organised, we know how much fish is coming out from each of the respective provinces and we are better able to ensure that we can link our farmers to particular markets.”
Government will soon be expanding the survey to Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central provinces.
Online Reporter