Branton Matondo
The importation of fish feed from China and Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region has weighed down fish farmers in Zimbabwe causing a decline in productivity and demand, an expert has said.
Fish farming is a growing agro-based industry that has both small and large scale players.
Due to the amount of tariffs on fish feed from China through the South African coast and fish meal from SADC countries like Namibia, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia, Zimbabwean fish farmers have gone to face a tough obstacle of failing to reach audible productivity.
Speaking to TellZim News at a recently held fish farming strategy launch in Mutare, Zimbabwe Fish Producers Association (ZFPA) chairperson Garikai Munatsirei said breeding and commercialization of Tilapia is a fast growing venture in Zimbabwe but the high cost of accessing fish feed is weighing on production levels.
“Among the many challenges faced by fish farmers in Zimbabwe, the chief obstacle is pricey fish feed. It’s very difficult to access standard fish feed for a standard harvest. Shortages of maize and soya beans which can also be used to make fish feeds have also pushed the industry to the edge. In terms of soya beans, it’s taking long to grow enough for the sector but the country ends up importing soya beans from Malawi, South Africa and neighbouring Zambia,” said Munatsirei.
He added that tariffs are a major blow to the effective production of fish farming and aquaculture initiatives since most of the local fish farmers are artisanal.
“The major setback now comes in paying tariffs and border charges making fish feed very expensive. So it’s quite simple, the final product becomes expensive because a fish farmer encounters high expenditure and costs hence reducing the demand,” he added.
Challenges facing fish farmers range from hefty imported fish meal, security and demand.
Coordinator for Spring Glory fish farming Simon John cited the same challenges when TellZim reached him for comment at the farm based in Manicaland.
“The first major challenge is feed then followed by electricity shortages because projects like the one here at Spring Glory farm require 80% electrical charge for standard operation of machinery. This month we lost 240 breeders to power cuts,” bemoaned John.
He added that demand for fish farming produce is low at the moment as they have only two established outlets in Mutare.
However, in a bid to address the issue of hefty fish meal a unique project at Haggai farm in Mutasa constituency managed by one Godfrey Chironda and meant to curb the acute challenges is currently underway.
Chironda said the project is organic, unique and cost effective in its bid to address impending challenges.
“This is a black soldier fly project which we use to produce larvae. It has actually 50 to 60 % protein level and it can directly replace fish meal which is very expensive. The idea is to have a significant fall of feed to have better returns on the market,” said Chironda.
The project at Haggai farm which is a single pilot project in Zimbabwe to produce environmentally friendly fish feed has attracted attention from international organisations.
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) delegation led by Fish4ACP Programme Management Unit Focal Person for Zimbabwe Yaiza Dronkers visited Haggai farm.
