Zim on cusp of a fisheries boom

Milton Makumbe

THE year 2024 was marked by significant progress in our efforts to promote sustainable fisheries and aquaculture development in Zimbabwe.

Despite the challenges posed by the El Niño-induced drought, economic constraints and other factors, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources Production Department (FARD) remained committed to its mandate of ensuring the sustainable management of the country’s fisheries and aquaculture resources.

Throughout the year, FARD implemented various initiatives aimed at promoting fisheries and aquaculture development, improving food security and enhancing the livelihoods of fishing communities.

We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that our country’s fisheries and aquaculture resources are managed in a sustainable and responsible manner and that the benefits of these resources are shared equitably among all stakeholders.

Key achievements

Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme

The dam stocking programme seeks to boost fish production, support local economies and ensure equitable distribution of resources and benefits across Zimbabwe.

In 2024, 33 dams were stocked with 312 500 fingerlings under the Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme.

Masvingo province had the most dams stocked (nine) and fingerlings utilised amounted to 120 500.

Midlands province had the fewest dams stocked (one), with just 10 000 fingerlings utilised.

A key component of this initiative is the establishment of dam stocking committees, which comprise community members tasked with managing stocked dams and ensuring equitable distribution of benefits.

These committees oversee dam management decisions and conflict resolution. They also help in addressing challenges that may arise.

Last year, 35 dam committees were established. They include those at Chegutu 6 and Goromonzi dams, where 98 participants received training.

Furthermore, 78 local farmers and fishers from five fisheries cooperatives in Goromonzi district graduated from training programmes aimed at enhancing their skills and knowledge.

Aquaculture business units

In 2024, a total of 1 342 fishponds were stocked. Village business units (VBUs) accounted for the largest number of stocked ponds, with Mashonaland East province leading in that respect. Although Masvingo province had fewer ponds stocked (141) compared to Manicaland, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland West, it utilised the highest number of fingerlings, stocking a total of 7 007 000 due to the large surface area of its ponds.

Fish4Schools

School trainings and aquaculture projects: Learners at 33 schools received comprehensive training in aquaculture, enabling the institutions to establish their own aquaculture projects.

This initiative not only provides learners with practical skills but also contributes to the country’s food security.

Academic training institutions: Students at Mlezu Agricultural College and Solusi University were trained and the institutions were established as centres of excellence in aquaculture in their respective provinces.

This partnership enhances the capacity of these institutions to provide high-quality training and research in aquaculture. School business units: With Government support through FARD, 13 SBUs were established.

These enterprises enable learners to engage in practical aquaculture projects, fostering entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency.

Fishpond establishment and stocking: Thirteen fishponds were established and stocked with 30 000 fingerlings.

This initiative provides schools with a tangible resource for hands-on learning and income generation.

Launches and promotions: Four launches were conducted in schools across different districts and provinces, promoting the Fish4Schools programme and encouraging more schools to participate in aquaculture development.

Youth training

In 2024, FARD’s aquaculture training programmes made significant strides in promoting inclusivity and empowering the youth.

The programmes, which focused on sustainable practices, aquaculture production and pond construction, attracted a total of 4 490 young participants across the country.

One notable achievement was the balanced gender representation among participants.

With 2 490 males and 2 000 females taking part, the programmes demonstrated a commitment to gender equality and inclusivity.

The training programmes also saw high participation in Masvingo, Murewa and Shurugwi.

These provinces are significant for aquaculture development in Zimbabwe, and the strong participation rates indicate a growing interest in sustainable fish farming practices among the local youth.

Mashonaland East province stood out for its strong female participation. A total of 640 females were trained in aquaculture practices.

This is a positive trend, as it suggests that women are increasingly taking on roles in the aquaculture sector, contributing to household income and improving food security.

Youth business units

A total of three YBUs, located in Masvingo, Mutasa and Murewa, were stocked through the Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme.

Among these, the Mushagashe VTC in Masvingo stands out for achieving a remarkable first harvest of 450 kilogrammes (kg).

This impressive yield demonstrates the effectiveness of the aquaculture practices implemented at this site.

The other two YBUs — the Nhakiwa VTC in Murewa and the Magamba VTC in Mutasa — are also making progress.

The Nhakiwa VTC recorded a first harvest of 60kg.

The Magamba VTC, on the other hand, is currently at the first stocking stage, with no recorded quantity yet.

The successful harvests from these YBUs demonstrate the potential for growth and scalability in Zimbabwe’s aquaculture sector.

With proper support and resources, these units could enhance their production capabilities in subsequent cycles.

The cumulative production of 510kg from these YBUs can contribute significantly to local economies, providing both income for the youth involved and a source of protein for local communities.

Fish4Pensioners

The Fish4Pensioners programme is a groundbreaking initiative that empowers pensioners and vulnerable groups in Zimbabwe to engage in aquaculture.

Launched in March 2024, the programme aims to promote inclusive and sustainable development in the aquaculture sector.

The scheme has achieved remarkable success, training a total of 232 pensioners in aquaculture production.

Initially, 30 pensioners were trained at the Henderson Fisheries Unit. Later, an additional 202 pensioners were trained across all eight rural provinces, as well as Harare Metropolitan province.

Fish4She

Through targeted interventions, FARD provided critical assistance to women, enabling them to take control of their lives, generate income and foster food security.

FARD conducted comprehensive aquaculture production training at the Henderson Fisheries Unit for the Pamodzi Fisheries and Fresh Produce Women’s Group.

The training was designed to be practical and hands-on, with a focus on building women’s confidence and skills in aquaculture enterprises.

By equipping women with the necessary knowledge and skills, FARD sought to ensure that they had the capacity to sustain their projects over the long term.

FARD also provided tangible support to women by establishing a fishpond for the Pamodzi Fisheries and Fresh Produce Women’s Group.

The fishpond, measuring 20m x 10m, was stocked with 2 000 fingerlings on October 25, 2024.

Private sector-funded programmes

In collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), we developed a technical cooperation programme (TCP) that strategically positions Government hatcheries to improve access and reduce the cost of fingerlings. Five Government breeding sites — Henderson, Makoholi, Matopos, Bubi-Lupane and Chipinge — are being refurbished under the project. The project aims to address the high demand and low supply of quality fingerlings in Zimbabwe by distributing genetically selected high-performance breeds.

It also focuses on increasing trainer capacitation to ensure the success and continuity of the project while promoting community participation and gender mainstreaming in fisheries and aquaculture operations.

Additionally, the project seeks to enhance public sector compliance with international standards and market requirements for hatchery facilities.

As one of the deliverables under the TCP, hatchery management guidelines were developed to address the needs of small- to large-scale hatcheries, ensuring quality fingerlings are produced using global best practices.

FARD, in collaboration with FAO, carried out a consultative workshop on the development of aquaculture hatchery management guidelines for Zimbabwe from August 15 to 16, 2024.

A validation workshop was also carried out on October 24.

Draft guidelines have been developed and are awaiting finalisation.

Governance and blue economy trade corridors in SADC region

Zimbabwe successfully secured funding from the African Development Bank and SADC Profishblue following a developed and shared concept note for the procurement of refrigerated trucks.

These vehicles will be used to transport fish products using cold chain facilities, ensuring the preservation of product quality.

One truck has already been procured and the necessary paperwork for its handover was finalised in 2024.

The addition of this refrigerated truck is expected to significantly enhance the logistics of ferrying fish products to cold chain facilities, thereby maintaining the freshness and quality of fish during transportation.

The project for improving fisheries governance and blue economy trade corridors in the SADC region — Profishblue Output 2 — aims to develop a joint blue economy strategy and an investment plan for Lake Kariba and surrounding communities.

In collaboration with FAO, FARD conducted a survey in Binga district; as well as Sinazongwe district in Zambia.

First fisheries and aquaculture sector coordination meeting

FARD facilitated the first fisheries and aquaculture sector coordination meeting and Tilapia Value Chain Indaba in 2024.

The meetings’ aim was to facilitate a sector-coordinated approach to fundamental pillars of fisheries and aquaculture development, which include production, research, regulation, funding and fish product markets to meet national targets and pave the way for the export market.

The meetings encompassed participants from fish farmer associations, youth fish farmer groups, hatcheries, input suppliers, feed manufacturers, the academia, financing partners, the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA), implementing partners and ministry officials.

Thematic working groups were formed, comprising the participants, to provide a platform for stakeholders to collaborate, share knowledge and address key challenges and opportunities in the fisheries and aquaculture sector on a monthly basis.

Milton Makumbe is the director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources Production Department.