Blessing Rwizi Post Correspondent —
AQUAFEEDS Zimbabwe has initiated preventive measures to help 450 fish farmers in Manicaland not to lose their fish in the light of incessant heavy rains.
Aquafeeds Manicaland marketing development officer, Mr John Shumba, said there were high chances of pond breach and overflow because of the rains.
He urged farmers to reduce water levels in their ponds and increase their freeboards to at least 70cm.
Another prevention measure given is the installation of overflow pipes to avoid fish from swimming out when the ponds are full.
“There are high chances of pond breach and overflow because of the heavy rains being experienced and it is wiser for fish farmers to reduce water levels in their ponds as well as increasing their freeboards to at least 70cm to avoid loss of fish. The installation of overflow pipes is also of paramount importance as they avoid fish from swimming out when ponds are full.
“Farmers should also keep their ponds clean by removing litter like twigs, leaves and papers that float on water. These are dangerous because they can clog or block outlet and overflow pipes, resulting in overflows of the fish ponds,” said Mr Shumba. He added that farmers should create drains to avoid runoff leading into the fish ponds.
“Farmers should avoid a situation whereby water flows into the fish ponds by creating drains or contours that divert water from the fish ponds. Besides overflowing the ponds, the dirty water brings diseases that affect fish, logs, papers and leaves that may block drainage pipes,” he said.
Aquafeeds is getting fish from Lake Harvest in Kariba and sourcing markets for the farmers in a bid to change livelihoods around the areas. They are also supplying feeds to farmers as well as educating them on how to breed fish. It has so far established nine demonstration ponds in Makoni, Mutare and Makoni districts.
Fish farming around the three districts started with a group of 18 farmers under the auspices of Maoresa Fish Production in Ward 23 of Mutasa District.
Aquaculture is the fastest growing agricultural industry globally and fish have the highest food conservation ratios as they produce more protein per kg of feed