A new community development project in Zambia aims to improve the livelihoods of small-scale tilapia farmers.

Launched in July, the sustainability-focused project in Mpulungu is being led by Skretting, which is providing feed and sharing its acquaculture knowledge and expertise with 45 farmers, of which 44% are women.

“For a long time, farmers in Zambia have had the challenge of getting good quality fingerlings and good quality feed for farmers,” said Jurre Zaal, general manager of Skretting Zambia. “Skretting is happy to fill that gap and provide farmers with the Skretting feed and services that they need through initiatives like this community development project.”

Addressing challenges

“Quality feed, quality fingerlings and technical service will accelerate fish farming projects in the province and address some of the major challenges for fish farmers,” said Ramans Kayumu, provincial fisheries officer from the Zambian Ministry of Fisheries at the launch event.

In addition to farmers involved in the project, the launch attendees included representatives from the Zambian Ministry of Fisheries and the Misanfu Research Institute as well as WorldFish. Farmer Lwao Mutale said that "the support for small-scale farmers will enhance the production of fish in the region."

Farmers will be preparing their ponds throughout August to be ready to stock fingerlings in September.

Skretting’s community development projects aim to empower those involved to secure both social and economic value in their livelihoods, while driving innovation and supporting the long-term prosperity of the communities in which it operates, as well as the aquaculture industry.