FISH PONDS - Residents challenged to scale-up integrated fish farming in Mzimba
Mzimba north is characterised by hilly terrain and hard to reach but the soils are very alluvial for agriculture, farmers are now being urged to diversity into fish farming for nutritional security
MZIMBA, Malawi (Planet Defence) – Residents of Mzimba north living in the hard-to-reach areas of Viphya plateau have been challenged by staff at Bwengu Agriculture Development Office to embrace integrated fish farming as a way of improving both food and nutritional security through fish consumption reports Andrew Saukani from Mzimba.
Speaking at the end of a two-day fish farming training, Bwengu Agriculture Development Officer Christopher Kanyika asked the communities to take fish farming seriously taking advantage of requisite conditions in the area to the betterment of their livelihoods.
Communities in Mpandanyali, Kampeya and Kamanda are benefitting from agriculture and climate resilience interventions implemented by Evangelical Lutheran Development Services which includes climate smart agriculture intervention and fish farming.
Kanyika advised communities to utilize perennial rivers and alluvial soils for fish and irrigation farming that will guarantee them all round access and availability of food at both household and community level.
“The start is impressive with 13 standard fish ponds but use the knowledge and skills gained from this training to construct more fish ponds if your farming is to be more profitable” Kanyika told farmers that have constructed fish ponds in the area.
Evangelical Lutheran Development Services (ELDS) is implementing a three – year climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods project in Bwengu Extension Planning Area with emphasis on fish farming in the uplands of Viphya plateau which are isolated and hard to reach.
ELDS has partnered with agriculture and fisheries departments in supporting communities with construction materials, supply of fish fingerlings and training.
ELDS Project Officer, Gazeli Phiri observed that communities need to be guided to sustainably utilize natural resources to improve their livelihoods which ELDS is doing. Impressed with progress on interventions so far implemented, Gazeli disclosed that they are considering extending their operations in Mzimba north.
Ken Kamba, chairperson of Kamanda fish farming club commended government agencies and partners for the support and partnership while delivering expertise to the farmers saying the training is to deepen their understanding of fish farming hence motivated them to construct more fish ponds.
* Andrew Saukani is the current Mzimba District Fisheries Officer, his office has intensified fish farming among most of the Agriculture Extension Planning Areas to ensure integrated farming reaches as many subsistence farmers as possible.