Make a Difference
Fish Farming
Fish farming: the sure way to go!
Fish farming has become a large source of income for many rural people in Zambia’s Luangwa valley where poverty and hunger once dominated the lives of many. Prior to COMACO’s interventions, fish was seen as a means to survive, but wrong measures of harvesting fish were adopted by several fish mongers-such as over fishing in the Luangwa valley and the use of wrong sized nets that gather all fish including the small ones, thereby leaving little or no fish to breed.
This situation was of great concern to COMACO who found it necessary to introduce fish farming as a livelihood activity by organizing farmers into fish producer groups. COMACO achieved this by digging fish ponds, providing stock, encouraged and sensitized the farmers in methods of responsible harvest of fish.
With the aid of energetic extension staff, lead farmers and government fisheries officers, COMACO has trained many fish farmers in the use of appropriate fishing methods and the result is that many households are now reaping the benefits of their participation in this community project.
One of the many beneficiaries of the fishing project is Satenji Banda, a 45 year old married woman with four children from Zumwanda chiefdom. Previously, Satenji depended largely on subsistence farming for her livelihood, Satenji and her family had a hard time surviving as she was only able to harvest maize enough for her household consumption. Due to this unfortunate happening, Satenji and her family run out of food before the next harvest.
Satenji, first joined COMACO in 2006 and decided to pursue fish farming as a livelihood activity. It was at this point that she acquired basics knowledge of fish farming and soon realized that there was a lot of potential in the venture. The Tigwilizane (translated work together) group which she belonged to was given fingerlings by COMACO and it is here that her journey to prosperity began and has not stopped.
In 2008 Satenji decided to go solo and started her own fish farming business using the skills she was equipped with. She did this in order to raise enough income to take care of her children and as a way of supplementing her husband’s income who had also joined COMACO as a beekeeping farmer.Satenji started by digging her fish pond and later bought 250 fingerlings to start her business. After successfully using correct feeding methods such as plankton, maize bran and manure as supplementary feed, Satenji harvested 270kgs of fish last season which she sold at a price of K12,000 per kg from which she earned K3,240,000. Satenji now sells her fish to restaurants and market shops in Lundazi and has established a good chain of customers.
Fish farming has become a large source of income for many rural people in Zambia’s Luangwa valley where poverty and hunger once dominated the lives of many. Prior to COMACO’s interventions, fish was seen as a means to survive, but wrong measures of harvesting fish were adopted by several fish mongers-such as over fishing in the Luangwa valley and the use of wrong sized nets that gather all fish including the small ones, thereby leaving little or no fish to breed.
This situation was of great concern to COMACO who found it necessary to introduce fish farming as a livelihood activity by organizing farmers into fish producer groups. COMACO achieved this by digging fish ponds, providing stock, encouraged and sensitized the farmers in methods of responsible harvest of fish.
With the aid of energetic extension staff, lead farmers and government fisheries officers, COMACO has trained many fish farmers in the use of appropriate fishing methods and the result is that many households are now reaping the benefits of their participation in this community project.
One of the many beneficiaries of the fishing project is Satenji Banda, a 45 year old married woman with four children from Zumwanda chiefdom. Previously, Satenji depended largely on subsistence farming for her livelihood, Satenji and her family had a hard time surviving as she was only able to harvest maize enough for her household consumption. Due to this unfortunate happening, Satenji and her family run out of food before the next harvest.
Satenji, first joined COMACO in 2006 and decided to pursue fish farming as a livelihood activity. It was at this point that she acquired basics knowledge of fish farming and soon realized that there was a lot of potential in the venture. The Tigwilizane (translated work together) group which she belonged to was given fingerlings by COMACO and it is here that her journey to prosperity began and has not stopped.In 2008 Satenji decided to go solo and started her own fish farming business using the skills she was equipped with. She did this in order to raise enough income to take care of her children and as a way of supplementing her husband’s income who had also joined COMACO as a beekeeping farmer.Satenji started by digging her fish pond and later bought 250 fingerlings to start her business. After successfully using correct feeding methods such as plankton, maize bran and manure as supplementary feed, Satenji harvested 270kgs of fish last season which she sold at a price of K12,000 per kg from which she earned K3,240,000. Satenji now sells her fish to restaurants and market shops in Lundazi and has established a good chain of customers.
Satenji’s Pond recently stocked after harvest Some Fish harvested from Satenji’s pond
From the money she raised, Satenji was able to buy maize for her family which she bought from fellow farmers involved in conservation farming.
She has also managed not only to make her family food secure but has also provided bed, clothing and school fees for her children.
“My granary is full with maize and am assured of feeding my family for the rest of the year,’ say Mrs Zimba as she proudly points to her maize granary. Satenji’s husband is proud of his wife’s success story as now believes that her determination got her what she wanted and without the interventions from COMACO, life would have been much harder than now.
Satenji now looks back and thanks COMACO for helping her find the turning point in her life and for helping not only her, but many other households who were once wallowing in poverty and lacked knowledge on proper farming methods.
From the money she raised, Satenji was able to buy maize for her family which she bought from fellow farmers involved in conservation farming.She has also managed not only to make her family food secure but has also provided bed, clothing and school fees for her children.
“My granary is full with maize and am assured of feeding my family for the rest of the year,’ say Mrs Zimba as she proudly points to her maize granary. Satenji’s husband is proud of his wife’s success story as now believes that her determination got her what she wanted and without the interventions from COMACO, life would have been much harder than now.
Satenji now looks back and thanks COMACO for helping her find the turning point in her life and for helping not only her, but many other households who were once wallowing in poverty and lacked knowledge on proper farming methods.