Southern Africa: Zim – The largest producer of fish in SADC

By Enacy Mapakame

Zimbabwe could become one of the biggest fish producers in the region thanks to dynamic aquaculture in the SADC region, analysts said.

Despite its land-lockedness, Zimbabwe holds about 60% of the water dams in the Sadc region and owns the largest freshwater fish farm in all of Africa. The sector has also attracted the interest of small, emerging entrepreneurs who see opportunities for growth.

In addition, the country has a climate conducive to dynamic aquaculture that contributes significantly to GDP.

Already, the sector is showing signs of improvement since the creation of the Zimbabwe Fish Farmers Association in 2016.

Annual production is estimated at 9,000 metric tons, making Zimbabwe the seventh largest tilapia producer in Africa.

For the brokerage firm IH Securities, the right policies remain the key to achieve this, although the sector has a strong potential for economic downturn.

"Aquaculture can become a major industry in Zimbabwe with appropriate policies and strategies," said IH in its report on the Zimbabwe Agriculture Sector 2019.

"Aquaculture continues to grow due to the growing interest of small-scale farmers in pond aquaculture and the growing interest of various ministries, although policy coordination remains a challenge given the multiplicity of regulatory agencies involved in the fishing industry, "said IH.

In Zimbabwe, it is estimated that local fish consumption is 2 kg per capita per year, or 28,000 tonnes. The remaining 21,000 tonnes are covered by imports mainly from neighboring Mozambique, giving more opportunities for Zimbabweans to enter the sector.

Globally, fish farming is one of the fastest growing agricultural industries. It plays a vital role in feeding a growing world population because fish can be produced more efficiently and cheaply than most meat proteins with the highest feed conversion rates because they produce more protein . per kilogram of food.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has said that fish supplies food to about 3 billion people, while agriculture is seen as an innovative way to strengthen global food security and to increase household income in securities.

A study by Conservation International and the World Fish Center, which evaluated fish farming in 18 different countries, also revealed that this sector is essential for the growing food of urban populations.

The government has also recognized aquaculture as a valuable form of livestock farming that has the potential to make a substantial contribution to sustainable livelihoods, food security and economic development through value creation and sustainable development. 39, export of processed fishery products.

FAO also notes that Zimbabwe has more than 12,000 small and medium-sized inland dams and agricultural irrigation facilities capable of producing 160,000 tonnes of farmed fish, while the estimated production of capture and harvest fish farmed fish is respectively 12,500 and 10,500 tons. .

However, fish exports declined in 2018, registering $ 6.24 million compared with $ 7.85 million the previous year.

Fish imports of this product totaled $ 12.83 million last year, up from $ 16.7 million in 2017.