Fish Farming Project Empowers Women, Improves Nutrition in Rural Malawi
Fish farming project in Mandimu, Bkantyre, Malawi, empowers women and provides nutrition, writes Thokozani Beaton.
Blantyre, Malawi-A fish farming project at Mandimu Fish Club in Blantyre district, Malawi, is empowering women economically and providing good nutrition in the rural community, writes Thokozani Beaton.
The project, which was initiated in 2015, has helped farmers overcome financial instability in their households by providing an alternative source of income.
The farmers sell fish to supplement their incomes, and they have also gained fish management skills.
"The skills and knowledge imparted to farmers through a series of training organised by the GIZ organisation under the Aquaculture Value Chain Programme (AVCP) have helped us realise that fish farming can be done as a business,” said Lisnet Chaonaine, a fish farmer and secretary for the fish club.
"We now know that fish farming is not just about feeding the fish; it is also about taking good care of the ponds, making the proper feed for the fish so that they grow healthy and, in turn, fetch better prices on the markets,” she explained.
Currently, Mandimu Fish Club has six fish ponds and mostly farms fish species such as 'Chilunguni' and 'Shiranus'.
According to the club's calculations, a big pond at the farm produces approximately 250 kg per harvest, which is twice a year.
The farmers make the fish feed using locally found materials such as soybeans, peas, and other ingredients.
Evelyn Francisco, a member of the fish club from Lesten Village, has highlighted how fish farming is helping people, including herself, in the local community.
She said the project offers a good diet to households.
"Fish farming is providing us with a good supply of proteins. Before I joined the club, I rarely ate well-grown, fresh fish. Now I have a steady supply of fresh fish, from our own ponds,” said Francisco.
"I also benefit financially from the project after we sell our fish harvest. The proceeds support my family,” she added.
Chaona Chomali, a lead farmer in Mandimu area, has also praised the initiative as a success, as the club generates extra income through the sale of hatchlings to other farming clubs and individuals wishing to venture into fish farming.
Though the fish club has registered remarkable strides since the farmers were trained to take fish farming as a business, there have been years of poor harvests due to unstable management.
According to Chomali, a lack of better operating equipment, such as milling machines for the floating fish feed and office facilities, is one of the challenges that hinders the growth of the club.
An Agriculture Extension Development Officer (AEDO) for Ntonda Extension Planning (EPA) in Blantyre, Clara Makanjira, has acknowledged the project's achievements and contributions towards fish farming and says the farmers have now been grouped into cooperatives so as to receive capacity-building training to promote their club and the business of fish farming in the area.