STATUS OF SMALL-SCALE FISH FARMING IN THE THULAMELA MUNICIPALITY, LIMPOPO PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA

The Thulamela Municipality in Limpopo Province is largely situated on the Lowveld and has among the warmest annual average air and water temperatures in South Africa. This makes it an ideal location for raising warm water fish species, such as Tilapia and Catfish. Many rural people in this region have access to adequate land and water resources; they are therefore in a position to farm with fish as a way to provide food security, improve their livelihoods, create jobs and improve the local economy.

In order to determine the current status of fish farming in Thulamela 20 smallholder fish farmers were interviewed based on a project funded by the Water Research Commission entitled "Knowledge transfer on water resource management for improved integrated aquaculture and agriculture systems". The questionnaire focused on three main areas: Profile of the fish farmer, problems faced, and knowledge sources used. The responses were analysed using general statistics and descriptive text.

Results indicated that:

• Freshwater fish farming as a thriving commercial enterprise is virtually non-existent and isolated fish farmers are doing their own thing in the best way that they can manage.
• Fish farming is mainly a subsistence activity.
• Farmers desire extension services to assist in practical ways to address barriers to production.
• Small ponds, limited access to quality seed and high feed costs and availability present major stumbling blocks to aquaculture development.

It is recommended that:

• Ponds are gradually increased in number and size.
• Government subsidises quality feed and seed.
• Farmers operate around clusters in nodal points (Fig. 1).
• The produce from these clusters are absorbed by an aquaculture development zone in this region.   

The paper elaborates the results and makes further recommendations for supporting existing fish farmers and promoting aquaculture growth in this region.