Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
Agriculture Correspondent
ZIMBABWE’S decision to exempt fish feed from Value Added Tax (VAT) is beginning to ease the cost burden on aquaculture producers, with a local company taking delivery of two containers of feed last week.
More deliveries are expected into the country next week.
The development comes as Government intensifies efforts to modernise fisheries and aquaculture and build a US$2,37 billion industry by 2030, anchored on increased private-sector investment, modern production technologies and improved food and nutrition security.
The two containers are among the latest supplies secured by FinFish Suppliers, with the company expecting further consignments as demand for commercial fish production grows.
The tax relief, introduced under Statutory Instrument 15 of 2024, covers animal feed, including nutritional substances, stock licks, vitamins and minerals for livestock, poultry and fish.
The regulations, gazetted in February 2024, provide for the VAT exemption to apply to qualifying agricultural inputs both locally and when imported.
Livestock and Fisheries Production Department director Mr Milton Makumbe said access to quality and affordable feed remained central to the development of aquaculture.
“The arrival of additional fish feed options in the country is a positive development for the aquaculture sector, particularly because feed remains one of the major costs in fish production,” he said.
“What is important now is for farmers to have reliable access to quality feed and to use it according to recommended feeding programmes.”
Mr Makumbe said Government was focused on developing the entire aquaculture value chain.
“As Government, our interest is in seeing the aquaculture industry grow sustainably. This requires attention to the entire value chain, including fingerling production, feed, pond management, disease control, processing and markets,” he said.
FinFish Suppliers managing director Mr Tinashe Chihota said the latest consignment would improve feed availability while allowing producers to assess the feed under local conditions.
He said the feed’s average conversion ratio (FCR) of below 1.4 enabled farmers to produce more fish using less feed.
“The feed reduces farmers’ operational costs by about 30 percent while delivering consistent fish growth and reducing production risks,” he said.
“It is a premium European Union-certified product that has earned a global reputation for reliability, which is why we describe it as the ‘Toyota of fish feed’.”
Mr Chihota said improved feed efficiency could shorten production cycles, allowing farmers to bring fish to market faster.
He said farmers could produce fish weighing about 350 grammes in approximately 134 days, while fish could reach around 500 grammes in about 184 days under recommended production practices.
“This means farmers can complete more production cycles within a year, improve cash flow and increase profitability without compromising quality,” he said.
Mr Chihota said the introduction of internationally recognised feed technologies complemented Government’s drive to modernise aquaculture and increase domestic fish production.
At farm level, Mudzi fish farmer Mr John Kapfunde said feed remained one of the major costs facing producers.
“Feed is one of the biggest expenses in fish farming, so as farmers we are always looking at ways of managing that cost without compromising the growth of the fish.
“For us, the important things are the amount of feed we use, how quickly the fish grow and what it ultimately costs to produce a kilogramme of fish,” he said.
The aquaculture sector is expected to play an increasing role in rural employment, food and nutrition security and agricultural diversification as Zimbabwe works towards its US$2,37 billion industry target by 2030.
