Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
ZIMBABWE’S push to build a US$2,37 billion aquaculture industry by 2030 is set for a major boost as new fish feed technology is expected to reduce production cycles, allowing farmers to potentially achieve two harvests a year.
The development follows the introduction of specialised fish feed by FinFish Suppliers through its partnership with Danish fish feed manufacturer, Aller Aqua, with the technology aimed at addressing one of the major constraints affecting fish farmers — slow growth rates.
FinFish Suppliers director, Mr Tinashe Chihota, said the company’s engagements with farmers across the country revealed that long production periods had affected the profitability and sustainability of fish farming.
“We have been travelling the country, farm to farm, having studies and interviews with fish farmers. One of the things that we have come to understand is the poor quality of feed that is in the market, which has resulted in farmers not being able to do sustainable fish farming,” he said.
Mr Chihota said many farmers were struggling with poor feed conversion ratios (FCRs), a measure of how efficiently fish convert feed into body weight, resulting in extended production periods.
“For an average farmer, it takes about eight months to raise fish to 320 grammes, effectively not allowing a farmer to have two production cycles within a year. It won’t make economic as well as business sense, rendering the business unsustainable,” he said.
The new feed range, which includes Aller Aqua Pavo for starter fish and Aller Aqua Til Pro for growers, is formulated according to the different growth stages of fish.
Mr Chihota said the technology would significantly shorten the period required for farmers to reach marketable sizes.
“With this solution that we have brought, you will see that it will take you about 135 days to reach 350 grammes and 184 days to reach 500-gramme weight of your fish,” he said.
He said shorter production cycles would improve farmer profitability, increase fish availability and strengthen local production.
“This will bring shorter production cycles, consistent fish growth in terms of their sizes and economic value where the farmer now can quickly take their product to the market,” he said.
The intervention comes as Zimbabwe continues efforts to expand aquaculture as an alternative source of protein, income and employment, with Government targeting a billion-dollar sector by 2030.
Livestock and Fisheries Production Department director Mr Milton Makumbe said improving productivity across the aquaculture value chain was critical to achieving the sector’s growth ambitions.
He said access to quality production inputs remained important in ensuring farmers could operate commercially.
“Government is committed to supporting initiatives that improve productivity, strengthen farmer capacity and create a sustainable aquaculture sector,” said Mr Makumbe.
“Access to quality inputs such as feed is critical in helping farmers increase production and meet growing demand for fish.”
Zimbabwe Fish Producers Association chairperson Mr Garikai Munatsirei said production challenges, particularly around feed quality, had affected local supply.
He said some producers had been forced to import fish from Zambia to bridge shortages caused by inadequate domestic production.
“When farmers cannot achieve good growth rates, the supply gap remains because production becomes expensive and slow,” he said.
“Improving feed efficiency will help farmers increase output and reduce dependence on imported fish.”
As Zimbabwe scales up its aquaculture ambitions, stakeholders say improving production efficiency will be key to transforming fish farming from a small-scale activity into a commercially viable industry.
