How to improve fresh water aquaculture

[Nichrous Mlalila]

I'm Fisheries working in aquaculture department at Ministry of Livestock Development and Fisheries at HQ in Tanzania. The aquaculture industry is too rundimentery in Tanzania we have to upgrade by first doing a vey heavy countrywide research so that we can identify and make the aquaculture development framework. We do not the fund to carry ot the research. Please, you may give some of the details so that we can apply for funds from you or any other organization to carry out the field research.

Regards,
Nichrous Mlalila
from Tanzania

[AQUACULTURE ZIMBABWE]

Aquaculture Zimbabwe is a trust organisation that was registered in 2008 to develop sustainable aquaculture projects across the country. Focus is on the co-existence of both small scale and commercial aquaculture as a poverty alleviation measure while at the same time ensuring viability.Being a completely Zimbabwean initiative the project is facing serious financial challenges and would be more than grateful for any assistance that may come our way, be it resources, ideas or finance. For more details we may be contacted on: [e-mail]

[AQUACULTURE ZIMBABWE]

AQUACULTURE ZIMBABWE TRUST
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background
The Zimbabwean rural communities are the hardest hit by poverty, malnutrition, low levels of education, unemployment and HIV/AIDS. They are further marginalized by the fact that basic commodities in Zimbabwe are only found in the urban centres where they are sold in foreign currency, which they have no access to. Apart from agro-based activities there are no other viable activities in rural communal areas. Crop based livelihoods cannot adequately supply them square meal for their family members. Agricultural incomes continue to decline and unsustainable management techniques in agriculture and natural resources have become a growing concern, threatening the resource base of the country. As a consequence, the country continues to experience food insecurity, land degradation social instability, gender imbalances, domestic disputes, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and the overall challenge of entrenched and widespread poverty. In Zimbabwe fish is an integral part of the food of people: those who can't afford to purchase fresh fish frequently, at least buy dry fish and /or kapenta to have fish flavour in their meal. In addition, other sources of protein like beef, pork, chicken are now becoming scarce and expensive, hence the demand for fish is on the increase. As a result, fish of any size can be sold at any time and progressive farmers with experience in fish culture will view fish not only as food, but fish- pond as an “ATM”. Even with such good demand, productivity of the very few existing fish-ponds are poor, particularly with rural people who do not yet know that fish culture is a potential economic activity.

[AQUACULTURE ZIMBABWE]

1.2. Aquaculture In Zimbabwe- by AQUACULTURE ZIMBABWE TRUST.
In the past years, efforts were made to introduce fish culture and increase fish production through the FAO funded ALCOM projects, which were unfortunately rounded up in the mid nineties before the idea was embraced as meaningful food security measure. Most communal fishing co-operatives that were incepted with the help of donor funding in the late eighties and early nineties have since went down into oblivion while the few that remain have no support lines and are facing extinction.
While, effective agro-policies that have strong popular support are a political outcome of negotiation and bargaining amongst many different interests and constituencies in society. These processes are crucial to building democratic participation and to creating accountable, responsive governance in all sectors. However, if the voices of the poor and marginalized are not asserted in these processes, other interests are likely to dominate in both the design and implementation of policies further alienating the needy. Aquaculture is one major sector which is pivotal in alleviating poverty, creating employment and ensuring food security for the whole nation, hence the need to explore with diligence all possible ways of maximizing its outputs. Aquaculture farming systems constitute an agricultural dimension that has never been adequately explored and utilized before in Zimbabwe while other countries’ gross domestic products largely hinge on aquaculture and fisheries activities. Gross negligence of this critical component of agriculture in a country with loads of freshwater bodies like Zimbabwe has seen serious marginalization of the poor people who cannot afford to till the land due to the high costs of inputs and poor prices of the product.

[AQUACULTURE ZIMBABWE]

2.0 AQUACULTURE ZIMBABWE TRUST
A group of experts in the sector of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Human Capital Training and Development and general farmers founded the non-profit making organization Aquaculture Zimbabwe Trust. It is a wholly Zimbabwean owned initiative, and was legally established in early 2008 to support communal projects that encourage the use of creative solutions to poverty through freshwater aquaculture and fisheries. The Trust aims at enabling them to effectively participate, with credibility, in policy dialogue so that the voices of these resource poor farmers can have a better impact in the development of agro- policies. Aquaculture Zimbabwe Trust is committed to facilitating the sustainable development of aquaculture in Zimbabwe. This commitment is consistent with the Government's vision for the future in which all the economic facets of this country lie in the hands of the indigenous people, total empowerment that promotes sustainable development and recognizes the economic opportunities that industries, like aquaculture, can bring to the Zimbabweans.

[AQUACULTURE ZIMBABWE]

3.0 VISION AND OBJECTIVES
3.1. Vision (5 Year)
Aquaculture Zimbabwe Trust has as its vision to become the premier trust that represents the voice of the resource poor rural farmers and administering funds from a variety of sources encompassing external donors, private sector, community group and government for the purpose of promoting the sustainable development of rural aquaculture systems throughout the country and the region.
3.2. The main objectives of the Trust are:
i. To promote the sustainable development and growth of aquaculture activities as a poverty alleviation measure for the resource poor amongst vulnerable groups by introducing rural aquaculture in their communities.
ii. To promote self-sustenance as a goal to curb unemployment rife in the country through the empowerment of the vulnerable groups, that is, women, orphans and unemployed youths.
iii. To provide a platform for the voiceless to be heard on issues affecting their livelihood ranging from HIV/AIDS, gender, domestic violence, unemployment, to issues of governance through the various training and feedback workshops that can be implemented across the country.
iv. To raise revolving financial resources to support start-ups of commercial and micro-aquaculture projects for small groups, and co-operatives mostly in the rural communities.
v. To provide aquaculture information on research, awareness and networking for all stakeholders.
vi. To promote the advocacy and active participation of the smallholder farmers in the mainstream economy and national policy formulations.

contact: [e-mail]

[AQUACULTURE ZIMBABWE]

4.0 STRATEGIES
4.1 Deepening and widening engagement - stimulating action-research, knowledge sharing, and evidence-based policy proposals to overcome poverty and inequality; developing and fostering strategic partnerships and seeking to strengthen rural communities’ aquaculture initiatives and inclusive agricultural policy dialogue rather than competing with other civil society organizations for legitimacy and influence.
4.2 Countering poverty - implementing innovative practices and processes in the development of community based aquaculture and also promoting learning about how to maximize the available resources by using affordable and eco-friendly technologies thereby creating opportunities for growth to overcome poverty.
4.3 Capacity building - increasingly improving the capacity of local communities in merging their crop production systems with sustainable, eco-friendly aquaculture production systems to play a more effective role in overcoming poverty and improving on food security through effective training, support and monitoring measures.
4.4 Technical and financial resources support - sourcing and providing grants and technical support to community development organizations, community co-operatives and youth groups comprising the jobless, orphans, women and the disadvantaged subsistence farmers to enable them to participate significantly in the communal and national development processes.
4.5 Research and information networking - facilitating the establishment and management of central research and hatchery facilities for aquatic seed nursery and production, impact assessments, experiments, disease diagnosis, continuous farmer practical development programs and networking farmers with the markets and service providers.
contact: [e-mail]

[AQUACULTURE ZIMBABWE]

5.0 Organizational Structures
The membership of the Trust has three components.
5.1 The Board of Trustees,
Oversees the execution of the Trust’s objectives. The Board of Trustees seats at least once every month. The Trustees appointed to be Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer of the Board shall hold office for a period of three (3) years from the date of their appointment, regardless of their tenure of office as Trustees. The following constitute the Board of Trustees:
The Chairperson : Mrs Mungwashu Sophia
She is a holder of a BSc Biological Sciences, MSc Aquaculture Studies, Completing MBA and has worked for 17 years in the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority as a Fisheries and Aquaculture Research and Development Ecologist. She also participated in the FAO funded ALCOM research projects. Currently she runs a successful family retail business.
The Vice-Chairperson : Mr Ngoshi Misheck
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural management and has worked for the Agriculture Extension Services Department of the government for many years.
The Secretary : Mr Tongowona Garikaimose
He holds a Diploma in Education and is completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Studies. Has worked as an educator for more than six years. He holds several Human Resources Training Certificates and is currently an associate of the African Management Development Institute (AMDI) of Swaziland.
The Treasurer : Mr Dingwa Martin
He is an undergraduate in computer science and information systems with UNISA and several diplomas is IT, telecommunications and management. He worked for TelOne and Econet Wireless. He held managerial position at Econet and was a project member for Econet’s continental expansion program. Currently is a farmer, Gold miner and runs a successful computer consumable retail business. He brings a lot of experience in ICT and business management to the organization. He is also a member of the Board of Chiwundura Community Development trust.
The Board Member : Mr Mapfumo Blessing
He is currently the Aquaculture Advisor for INFOSA, representing the SADC region, based in Namibia. He holds a BSC Agric, Studies in Freshwater Aquaculture, Computer Engineering and has over 8 years experience in aquaculture. He has worked for the Lake Harvest Fish Farm on Lake Kariba. Lake Harvest is the largest supplier of tilapia bream and fillets to the European Union.
contact: [e-mail]

[AQUACULTURE ZIMBABWE]

5.2 The Executive Committee
Runs the day to day operations of the Trust and is subject to appointment by the Board of Trustees. It is currently composed of the following:
The Chairperson : Mr Dingwa Martin
He is an undergraduate in computer science and information systems with UNISA and several diplomas is IT, telecommunications and management. He worked for TelOne and Econet Wireless. He held managerial position at Econet and was a project member for Econet’s continental expansion program. Currently is a farmer, Gold miner and runs a successful computer consumable retail business. He brings a lot of experience in ICT and business management to the organization. He is also a member of the Board of Chiwundura Community Development trust.
The Secretary : Ms Maleni K. Debrah
She holds an MSc Agri Economics,Post Graduate Project planning and Management and has worked as an Agronomist for many years in the Ministry of Agriculture’s Extension Services Department.
The Treasurer : Mr Songore Newman
He holds a Master of Science in Fisheries Science, a Master of Philosophy in Fisheries Biology, a Diploma in Fisheries, Policy Planning and Management of Wildlife & Protected Areas, Diploma in Fisheries Technology. He has vast experience in the sector and is currently working for National Parks and Wildlife Management.
The Committee Member : Miss Tariro Dombo
She is a holder of a Diploma in Education and has several years of experience working for the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture.
5.3 General Membership
All interested persons, organizations, groups and companies. Membership is currently free but subscriptions will be introduced later.
6.0 FINANCIAL STATUS
6.1 Assets
The Trust has no major assets currently apart from movable office equipment.
6.2 Accountant
The Trust accountant is Mr Blessing Murondiwa. He holds a Bachelor of Accountancy Honors Degree, a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Accountancy, Completed Articles of Clerkship and is currently completing his MBA.
contact: [e-mail]

[Francis Quartey]

Am Francis from Ghana and having a small scale aqua culture industry i really need to develop it but haven't gotten any help ...please i need a partner or a helper who will help me establish my aqua culture industry

[Musabe]

Uganda is one of the devoloping coutries in africa and one of the countries in great lakes rigion, with the source of the nile, shares part of the largest lake in the world thefore it has alot of fresh waters to carry out fresh water aquaculture.
with system mostly cage fish farming but the wary is if this system is started fin these lakes and rivers won't the have appoluting effect the waters of Uganda becuase of ferterising them?
and this may heve a negative effect on other biodiversity and our brothers and sister in coutries that share on river Nile and L. Victoria.
so!!!! what can we do?