The ManicaPost
Blessing Rwizi
ABOUT 150 smallholder farmers in Mutasa have joined fish farming following the success of 33 others who ventured into the trade early this year.
The 150 have started construction of fish ponds at household levels and were urged to start fish stocking after winter by Practical Action because fish death rates are very high during the stocking process due of to low winter temperatures.
Moreso, growth rates are very low since the fish will be busy looking for warm places to hide.
Fish are also affected by the cotton wall disease during the winter season.
The successful 33 farmers have formed five groups and are yet to start the cage fish-breeding technique.
In this technique, fish will be raised in cages placed in the fish ponds or dams.
Practical Action acting district supervisor, Mr Lameck Mahohoma, said: The cage system method which replaces the traditional fish-growing method of earth ponds has been seen to be very successful in most parts of the world.
Its advantages are the unlimited amount of water surrounding the cages providing vast amounts of oxygen and running water, which is necessary for productive fish farming.
In addition to that, the financial investment in such a system is much lower. This system of cages is simpler in daily operation in comparison to any other commonly used method of growing fish.
Farmers in Mutasa have responded very fast to fish farming as the projects rich pickings have positively changed the lives of many, he added.
Ward 23 Agricultural Extension officer, Miss Janipher Marira, also said: We started as a group of 18 farmers under the auspices of Maoresa Fish Production and now 33 have successfully constructed ponds and stocked fish at household levels in Samaringa and Mutsamba villages.
Children at Jombe Primary School where one of the first fish ponds was constructed have also started lessons on fish farming.
The positive gains from fish farming are now being felt throughout the community with more than 150 farmers joining this year.
She urged farmers in Manicaland and other parts of Zimbabwe to embark on the same projects and earn a good fortune that can change their lives.
The farmers in Mutasa are breeding breams and Nile Telapia fish.
