Fish farming in Malawi

The World Fish Center, whose aim is to reduce poverty and hunger by improving fisheries and aquaculture, is based in Penang in Malaysia and has projects in over 20 countries, one of which is Malawi.

There are a number of projects in Malawi which are outlined in a downloadable pdf file, all aimed at providing better nutrition and an income for smallholders by integrating fish farming with other agriculture. The fish farmers have significantly more income than others, they consume more fresh fish and as a result have a higher protein intake than other households.

About 30% of these fish farmers are women. One project is specifically aimed at developing fish farming practices which are suited to households headed by widows or orphans. They are hoping to increase income and fish consumption for them by 25%.

Another project is looking at the suitability of fish production in urban areas. Yet another focuses on breeding and improving certain species appropriate for farming.

I found out all this from following links, originally from a Google news alert, and it has led to a huge topic that I barely knew existed, apart from one brief mention in April.

Other interesting links:

Fish for All

Water and Food

Some better news from Malawi

Two reports from IRIN (Integrated Regional Information Networks - part of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) and both have better news for Malawi

The first tells of a record maize harvest this year, which appears to be the result of the government subsidising the price of fertilizer by about 75%. This subsidy helps enormously except of course for the very poorest subsistence farmers. There are calls to provide fee fertilizer for this group, who often are looking after orphans as well as their own families. And no matter what the subsidy, lack of rain has caused a failing harvest in the Karonga district. There they need irrigation equipment.

The second report is about progress of fish farming in the southern countries of Africa which could be a good source of income and food. However most initiatives are hampered by lack of funds, skills and equipment. According to the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation, nearly half the fish eaten worldwide is farmed. As stocks of wild fish decline, there will be greater and greater demand for farmed fish.