FAO tilapia aquaculture project in Zimbabwe – The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has launched an exciting initiative in Zimbabwe that is set to revolutionise the country’s aquaculture sector. With funding of $500,000, the two-year project aims to increase the production of high quality tilapia fry to a target of four million per year. The move aims to overcome the current limited production and variable quality of fry provided by the state-run hatcheries, which currently produce only 100 000 specimens per year.
The collaboration between FAO and the Zimbabwean government focuses on making fry more affordable for local fish farmers, thus helping to strengthen the national fishing industry.
“We are showcasing Zimbabwe’s potential in the fisheries sector and embarking on a journey towards greater food and nutrition security,”
said Patrice Talla, FAO’s Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa.
The project also aims to strategically locate hatcheries throughout Zimbabwe, with the goal of lowering rearing costs and boosting domestic fish production. The hatcheries will be established at the Henderson, Makoholi and Matopos research centres, marking a significant step towards increasing the country’s fish production from 20,000 to 60,000 tonnes per annum by taking advantage of the more than 10,000 available dams and favourable climate.
In addition to increasing fry production, the FAO project will focus on building and refurbishing fish ponds, improving biosecurity protocols and developing staff skills. The effort comes at a crucial time for Zimbabwe, where aquaculture growth has slowed due to challenges such as lack of finance, limited government support and high production costs.
The initiative not only addresses the need to improve pond management and support farmers, but also strives to strengthen the traceability of broodstock and better coordinate policies in the sector. With a significant increase in the number of fish ponds recorded between 2022 and 2023, this project promises to bring new life to Zimbabwe’s aquaculture industry, making a key contribution to the country’s food security and economic well-being.
FAO’s tilapia aquaculture project in Zimbabwe
