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Precious Manomano Herald Reporter
Southern African Development Community (SADC) secretariat will release US$10,1 million towards aquaculture and fisheries programmes to seven SADC member states, including Zimbabwe, in an effort to boost fish production.
Ninety percent of the funds will come from the African Development Bank and the other 10 percent is coming from the member states with the programme supporting food chain systems of fisheries and aquaculture.
SADC went into partnership with African Development Bank in December 2021 and signed an agreement to implement a programme to improve fisheries governance which is supposed to be implemented in the Southern Development Committee.
The project is going to be implemented in seven countries which include Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tanzania, Zambia, Comoros, Madagascar, Mozambique and South Africa.
Speaking in a meeting with the SADC delegation on improving Fisheries Governance, Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary Dr John Basera said there are massive opportunities for aquaculture production adding that Zimbabwe should utilise water bodies that are currently available to boost the country’s fish production.
“There is massive potential for fisheries in Zimbabwe. We have a number of water bodies in Zimbabwe and we are creating more Lake Karibas in the country. We have over 10 700 water bodies and we have Lake Gwayi Shangani which is under construction and at 73 percent completion and Lake Tugwi Mukosi. In Mutare we have some small other lakes where we can do kapenta and tilapia.
In Zimbabwe we are now saying that you no longer necessarily have to look for land to invest, you can look for a water body to invest in, especially in the aquaculture and fisheries space which is indeed a blooming space with some massive potential opportunities. This is a sector which we are promoting but all the same we have other water bodies such as small dams and rivers we need to harness those and utilize so that we develop the aquaculture space,” he said.
Botswana SADC Secretariat Profishblue Project coordinator Dr Alexander Shula Kefi said policy coordination and policy harmonisation for fisheries and aquaculture development thrust in the respective jurisdictions among the member states are critical, adding that climate change adaptation and issues around environmental degradation are very key.
“We are working with member states to make this project but we identified partners that we are working with to make sure that all the components that we are taking are implemented. Out of this US$10,1 million, African Development Bank is providing 90 percent,” he said.
“We want to ensure that productivity on member states increases and also the share market value in terms of fish products. We are trying to harmonise fisheries products because it will be easier for member states to trade. Today our role is to introduce the project officially to the Government of Zimbabwe and also how we can improve the implementation,” he said.
Director of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Dr Milton Tinashe Makumbe said staff capacitation and farmer training will be conducted on all aspects of fish production.
The 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.
A total of 16 million fingerlings were produced in 2022 and Nile Tilapia fingerlings have the highest production compared to other breeds. This is because of all commercial hatcheries breeding Nile Tilapia.
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.
Last year Zimbabwe produced 5049 tonnes of fish compared to 5901 produced in 2021, a decrease of 14 percent. Fish species that are currently produced include Nile Tilapia, Red breasted bream, African catfish and Rainbow trout. Statistics also indicate that Kapenta production increased from 5 333 tonnes in 2020 to 5 950 in 2021. A total of 16 293 204 fingerlings were produced in 2022.
Farmers have recently welcomed Government’s initiative to introduce an Aquaculture Bill by the Government of Zimbabwe to expand and regulate fisheries effectively, describing a move as a milestone of economic importance that can pave the way for investments in the sector.
The new Bill will incorporate international best practices in fisheries and aquaculture management and will be aligned with national development priorities.
Tobacco Farmers Union Trust president Mr Victor Mariranyika said the Government”s move is greatly appreciated because 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.
“Fish farming has many benefits to individuals. We encourage farmers who are close to water bodies to use the opportunity because a farmer need to diversify farming to make profits,” he said.
Parliament is scheduled to debate the Bill and pass it into law during this year. The programme will lead to fulfilment of the Vision 2030 objectives that include import substitution through improved food and nutritional security, employment creation and improved incomes.
Mr John Khumalo of Matabeleland expressed excitement on the move by the Government to come up with the Bill 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.
“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,” he said.
“Fish is a very important economic product in Zimbabwe as a source of income, livelihood and employment creation yet the fisheries and aquaculture sectors have not been able to reach their full potential in terms of utilising the growth opportunities and downstream benefits to the communities.
Mr Tendai Mwanza of Mutare said he has four ponds at his farm with a fish carrying capacity of 3 000 to 4 000 but at the moment the ponds have no aquatic life as he was undertaking some renovations.
“Because of the poor quality of fingerlings we were getting, our profit margins were low. Our target market has largely been supermarkets in Mutare, but with this exciting development, we will soon be looking beyond Mutare,” said Mr Mwanza.
The Government is set to support more than 50 000 fish farmers as a way to boost productivity that they realise better returns from fish value chains. Fish farming is the fastest growing food producing sector and can be produced more efficiency and cost effectively. 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.
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