62 SEPTEMBER • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG a great provider of jobs and supporter of livelihoods, especially in the rural areas where they are really needed. In recent years, large numbers of Africans have ventured into fish farming, which is certainly a good sign. Small numbers of investors are also entering the business, with significant levels of capital and technology to impact production levels over the long term. Presently however, the vast majority of fish farmers are micro level operators accounting for only a few thousand tons per year, at best. Interventions by governments and international agencies are making some impact, but a lot needs to be done to change the situation of micro level production, to transform it into a viable force with the capacity to drive production to the required levels Most African fish farmers will quickly say that their main problems are cost of feed, inadequate capital, and lack of effective marketing. Due to their limited financial resources, they are only able to grow a few hundred tilapia and catfish to harvest size at a time. The cost of feed, especially, which accounts for at least 70% of the farmers’ budget, is a major limitation. Some of them try to overcome this challenge by compounding feed onAlmost all African countries are pursuing national aquaculture development strategies, having rightly decided that aquaculture offers the best opportunity to reverse the decline in national fish output, which has led to the expenditure of substantial amounts of hard currency on fish imports. Due to overfishing, the use of illegal fishing methods, climate change and several other factors, fish output figures have declined sharply over the years, and aquaculture has now been given the major task of providing fish to close the gap between demand and supply. It has to make perhaps the most significant contribution to food security, by delivering affordable protein in reasonably good time, and it has to do this in a sustainable manner. Africa’s protein requirements have increased with her increasing population, and aquaculture is seen as a crucial vehicle for dealing with providing what is needed. There are clear opportunities which could be tapped to increase fish production and to make a positive contribution to national economies. Generally, her abundant soil water and environmental conditions favour inland and coastal aquaculture. Indeed, traditional fish farming has been practiced all over Africa for many years. And the nationwide spread of favourable conditions makes aquaculture AFRICAN CHAPTER CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: Maximizing African Aquaculture — The Skills Factor Francis de Heer PHOTO 1. If the delivery of information and skills can be scaled up, the recipients will be able to practice better aquaculture. Almost all African countries are pursuing national aquaculture development strategies, having rightly decided that aquaculture offers the best opportunity to reverse the decline in national fish output, which has led to the expenditure of substantial amounts of hard currency on fish imports. Due to overfishing, the use of illegal fishing methods, climate change and several other factors, fish output figures have declined sharply over the years, and aquaculture has now been given the major task of providing fish to close the gap between demand and supply. PHOTO 2. In recent years, large numbers of Africans have ventured into fish farming.
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