While the production from natural
stocks of fish in the wild lakes and rivers of our country Malawi have
decreased over time since the 1980s. The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation
and Water Development through the Department of Fisheries at National
Aquaculture Centre (NAC), Domasi in Zomba is working on an improvement towards
a fast growing variety of local tilapia. This tilapia is indigenous in Shire
River, scientifically is called Oreochromis
shiranus. As a government Centre the
objective of scientists at NAC is to promote the fish farming industry through
the increase of fish production whereby they are also contributing to the socio
– economic development of the country.
This improved fish variety has
the potential to produce twice as much production per hectare per annum as
compared to the current production which stands at 1.2 tons per hectare per
annum. The scientists at NAC noted that the wild varieties are early maturing,
hence they use the energy supposed to be for growth in reproduction. The
improved variety will be a late maturing, as opposed to the wild variety. This
will enable this variety to use much of its energy for growth. This will enable
Malawians to access an increased availability of relatively low-cost,
high-quality animal protein from the increased yield; at the same time there
will be increased employment within the expanded aquaculture sector; and
possible foreign exchange earnings in the long term.
Reporting on this on-going work
Dr Hastings Zidana, who is also the head of National Aquaculture Centre
commented: “Farmers are bound to stand and gain substantial socio-economic benefits
from the adoption of this improved variety”. The fish seed of this improved
variety can be accessed at National Aquaculture Centre, the Department of
Fisheries Office at Domasi Fish Farm in Zomba.
