42 MARCH 2024 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG the creation of standards for controlling and protecting the genetics of threatened fish populations. Malawi’s government previously established several research and academic institutes to aid in the growth of the aquaculture industry in the country by enhancing female and youth participation (DoF 2016). Because of the high initial investment requirements, there is evidence of low youth and female engagement in the future expansion of aquaculture output. While women’s and youths’ participation in production has historically been limited predominantly to feeding fish in household ponds, studies have shown that both women and youths play a substantially larger role than men at downstream nodal points of the value chain. Njera et al. (2016) also studied the challenges affecting the capacity of fish farmer organizations in the districts of Dowa and Mchinji in Malawi. The fish farmers’ poor cooperation affected internal cohesion, which constrained organizational activities such as the formulation of institutional arrangements. This assertion agrees with Murekezi et al. (2020) who argue that cooperation among members is a significant element contributing to the success of farmer organizations in enhancing fish farming. A lack of solidarity among youths or women in their community associations, and malfunctioning governance structures create an environment of mistrust and animosity within farmer organizations and subsequently lead to their failure to deliver benefits and remain sustainable (Shiferaw et al. 2009; Rout 2013). Njera et al. (2017) and Munthali et al. (2022) thus recommended the active, structured participation of youths and women if aquaculture is to be promoted in Malawi. In many parts of Malawi, women and youths lament the scarcity of crucial inputs such as fingerlings and fish feed, particularly floating fish feed. Imported feed is becoming more expensive due to high import levies imposed to reduce dependency on all foreign inputs (Mwema et al. 2021). Furthermore, since the restriction on some exotic species such as the common carp, fish producers have been asking for another suitable replacement, which would raise income and hence incentivize the viability of aquaculture in the country (Kassam and Mtethiwa 2017). Zambian Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture Value Chains As with crop agriculture, the majority of fish farming value chains in Zambia have all been controlled by the small-holder category, which heavily relies on family labor (ACF/FSRP 2009). Through capture fisheries and aquaculture, the Government of Zambia attempts to address youth unemployment problems in Zambia. Studies have shown that small-holder aquaculture is alleviating poverty, improving household food security, and consequently raising the nutritional status in rural areas, especially in comparison to non-fish farming families (Mudenda 2006; Musuka and Musonda 2013). Fish products significantly contribute 53% of animal protein to the diets of Zambians, as fish consumption is rising countrywide (FAO 2016). Zambia’s aquaculture production has tremendously increased from about 5,000 metric tons in 2006 to over 30,000 metric tons in 2016 and to over 60,000 metric tons after 2020, placing the country as the sixth largest African aquaculture producer (WDI 2022). This can be attributed to joint efforts by the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the national government. Although Zambia now ranks 6th in aquaculture production in Africa (WDI 2022), several challenges still impede the full participation of women and youths, including traditions, a lack of capital investments, limited extension training, a lack of storage and processing facilities for prolonging shelf life, perceptions of individuals, and national and regional development programs, to mention but a few. Women contribute to aquaculture production by caring for ponds, feeding fish, and harvesting fish. Over the years, international donors have played an active role in developing and supporting the rural aquaculture sector. This has primarily been conducted through what Belton and Little (2011) refer to as interventionist or project-based strategies. Nonetheless, a fish value-chain assessment in Zambia by the WorldFish Center estimated a fish supply deficit of 57,000 metric tonnes. This deficit is bound to rise with the rapidly growing national fish demand Despite many women and youths being players in the small-scale supply of fish products, impartialities still exist in the capture fisheries and aquaculture value chains in these and other SSA countries. Chijoka, Marinda and Simmance suggest that further investment in aquaculture could provide a solution to unemployment for youths and women, enhancing food security.
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