Online Reporter
Felistas Tavarera and Patience Maturure
Agriculture Reporters
FISH farmers in Mashonaland East Province will receive fingerlings next month, which coincides with the eight-month growth cycle to capitalise on warm temperatures conducive for efficient feed conversion and accelerated growth.
Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Davis Marapira said this during a fish harvesting event at Gosha Village Business Unit (VBU) in Goromonzi on Tuesday.
“We are starting to yield results from the Presidential community fisheries programme. We stocked these fish ponds in November last year and because of the current winter season, the fish were not feeding very well due to the cold conditions, especially here in Mashonaland East,” he said.
“They have, however, improved from the fingerlings to between 200 and 300 grammes per fingerling in eight months,” he said.
Dep Min Marapira highlighted that introducing fish during the optimal period, starting August to May, can significantly enhance their growth, resulting in larger sizes.
“I was in Chiredzi, where we were harvesting fish weighing around 600 grammes after having been introduced into ponds almost at the same time as these ones,” he said.
“So we are starting to have results from the Presidential scheme. Our people are going to have food, which gives them good nutritional value. They are going to have some income since money is going to exchange hands today with people buying some fish.”
He added that the Gosha VBU had created full-time employment opportunities for around 27 people.
“And if you can look on the other side, we have the livestock sector. We have cattle being bred in this area and there is also a livestock market,” he said..
“So this is actually a VBU where farming activities are flourishing from vegetable production to Presidential fisheries and livestock development.”
Dep Min Marapira said the initiative sparked a flurry of activities, bringing closer the President’s vision of achieving an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
Director of Fisheries, Mr Milton Makumbe, added that the Presidential community fisheries scheme was making waves in rural communities, with VBUs successfully producing fish and creating new economic opportunities for locals.
“We established two fish ponds as per our flagship programme, the Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme. Our ponds are 20 metres by 10 metres, which means that each one accommodates 2 000 fish,” he said.
“We stocked this particular site sometime in November and we are here today at the invitation of the local councillor and the group running this particular VBU so that we witness the harvesting process.”
Mr Makumbe said Gosha VBU had achieved a significant milestone in its fish farming project with Tuesday’s harvesting.
“The unit’s success has sparked interest among community members, who are eager to establish their own fish ponds and also benefit from aquaculture.
“The Government is supporting this initiative through the fisheries and aquaculture resources production department, providing sex-reversed fingerlings of the fast-growing Nile Tilapia oreochromis niloticus and coptodon rendalli species.
“Aquaculture is a promising option for people of all ages and our department is committed to supporting individuals and communities in pursuing fish farming.”
