Article supplied by Tiger Animal Feeds

Fish is a healthy source of protein and nutrition. It is a great addition to starch-based diets from maize without many other sources of protein in the diet. Consuming fish provides amino acids and fatty acids, which are essential for brain and body development.

The Zambian government recognizes the need for diversified sources of income and nutrition, which will hopefully lead to good regulation and support for aquaculture in Zambia. Though small-scale aquaculture systems have been established by household producers, aquaculture is generally not included as part of a contribution to the national economic development. If anything, there is not enough data on the productivity of small-scale fisheries to monitor their progress or prove their impact.

Tiger Animal Feeds is playing a key role in the fish farming industry in Zambia through manufacturing quality fish feeds at competitive prices. In addition, Tiger Animal Feeds has been committed and focuses on technical service to existing and potential fish farmers, and producing quality fish feeds that provide faster growth of fish. The Zambian government, through Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC), has embarked on an economic mission to improve fish farming and contribute to national economic growth.

Technical field training

One of the objectives of Tiger Feeds is to provide technical assistance to fish farmers during field days.

Here, the filling of new fishponds with water is inspected:

Daily management check

The success of fish production entirely depends on good management, which means that the farmer must be equipped with managerial knowledge which involves planning, feeding, organising, controlling, communication and record keeping.

The following checks have to be done daily:

•Checking for water levels

•Checking for water quality for example:

-Controlling pH (fertilisation & liming)

-Dissolved oxygen (DO)

-Temperature

-Turbidity and hardness

Weed control

The fishpond and its surroundings will have to be cleaned every day to ensure that the environment is conducive for fish production. This includes controlling fungal diseases and predators (people, birds, frogs), planning and organising inventory (tools and input materials), keeping operation records, carrying out pond maintenance of screens, dikes, drainages, pipes and farm infrastructure, maintenance of all farm machinery, and putting up signage and posters within and around the farm.

Planning

Proper planning of pond construction is the key to building fish farmers’ economical objective of maximizing yield. Fish farmers should obtain technical advice from relevant agencies for guidance concerning pond design. These agencies offer the necessary experience to recommend the pond size, depth, location, and dam and spillway construction best suited to the landowner’s desires and the watershed and soil characteristics.

On-site advice from natural resource professionals is the first step for building a pond that will provide years of satisfaction and require minimal maintenance. Tiger Animal Feeds provides all technical services that meet the fish farmers’ needs to maximise production.

Record keeping

The process of record keeping starts with weighing to determine the growth rate. Fish farming is a business, and good record keeping is part of good farming. Record keeping helps the farmer to plan and do realistic forecasting.

It provides valuable information on which systems work.

In fish farming, some benefits of record keeping are:

•Measures efficiency and progress.

•Makes it easy to prepare accounts at the end of production.

•Identifies strengths and weaknesses in the farm business.

•Helps to minimise expenses.

•Helps to make informed decisions on changes and improvement of the business.

For more information contact Rowena Blanco on +26(0)-96-7991-847 or +26(0)-96-7790-404. Send an e-mail to rowena@tigerfeeds.com.zm or visit www.tigerfeeds.com.