BIG NSOMBA BOOSTS AQUACULTURE IN LUANSHYA

‍By HAPPYMULOLANI

BIG Nsomba as the name suggests, simply refersto table size fish. Big Nsomba is about to become a household name in Luanshyadistrict on the Copperbelt. It is a cooperative society; whose focus is uniquelyfish farming. This idea was birthed after the group realised a niche market forfish in the district.  

Big Nsomba transitioned from a farmer group towhat it is today. Despite the group conceiving workable ideas of exploring thefish market, they lacked adequate knowledge in terms of technical skills andmanagement practises to ensure they grow quality fish. For instance, how toconstruct recommended fish ponds, feeding and fish management.

Big Nsomba Chairperson Perpino Chikumbi,narrates that the group comprises 150 members and was linked to the EnhancedSmallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme (E-SAPP) in 2020. They undertooktrainings on how to keep fish for six months on fish management,entrepreneurship and record keeping. These lessons were key for the group totake stock of their production process and also track their progress.  

“The farmers appreciated the trainings which where structured in the Farming As A Business Schools (FaaBS) as they were not only informative but the fact that farmers learnt by seeing others doing what they were being trained for, made them realise the reality of the intervention lessons being offered,” he said.

Mr Chikumbi further explained that the group was assessed and a first disbursement grant of K1,207,258.95 released to set up their aspirations of a fish processing plant to enable them produce fish feed.

The cooperative procured the processing equipment which is yet to be installed. The rationale behind setting up the processing plant is to produce fish feed for the Big Nsomba farmers which they purchase at a subsidised rate while non-members would buy at a higher price. In this way, the group will make a profit return as they strive to exploit the local market with feed which is currently very expensive for the local farmers.

“We saw the need to exploit the fish market by engaging in the aquaculture intervention. The group’s idea came to fruition upon realising they had vast tracts of land which they could utilise by constructing fish ponds and also source for financial support to process fish feed,” explained Mr. Chikumbi.

However, the group is still awaiting authorities to resolve the issuance of alternative land to install the processing plant at a strategic place. The sooner this bottleneck is resolved, the better for the farmers as they will contribute to the current annual fish deficit approximately 87,000.

Once fully operational, the group is expected to produce 4,000 by 25kilogramme bags of fish feed in the first year. This will be based on the concept of the out-grower scheme. Fish feed will be sold to 100members on cash and credit terms during the first year at K350 per 25kilogrammebag; and another 100 farmers during the second year. Non-members will also be sold fish feed to make a profit to sustain the group’s operations.

One of the ardent fish farmer and groupmember, Getrude Mwanza explained that after the trainings, she constructed onefish pond and stocked it with fingerlings. As a group, they accessed 5,000fingerlings from a fellow fish farmer and shared equally among group members.

After the first harvest which was after sixmonths, she harvested 100 kilogrammes of fish and realised K5,000 from thesales which assisted to build an iron roofed house and pay for her children’sschool fees. This first harvest motivated her to construct six other fish pondswhile awaiting fingerlings and inputs.

“You see with fish farming, the focus should be properly constructed fish pond, regular feeding and also monitoring water monitors and a specific bird which often preys on the fish,” Ms Mwanza said.

Currently, fish farmers are faced with the challenge of lack of access to fingerlings and high cost of fish feed which needs to be looked into if this value chain is to flourish to unimaginable levels.

“The cost of fish feed is K490 which is too expensive for us [fish] farmers, it will be good for farmers to make their own feed once the plant is installed and operationalised,” disclosed Ms. Mwanza.

She said farmers have been stimulated to venture into fish farming given that it is not labour intensive as compared to other value chains.

Another fish farmer, Ronica Milupi, purchased2,200 fingerlings after undergoing trainings through the FaaBS over a period of eight months.

“In the past years, I just used to keep fishin a disorganised manner as I did not have knowledge on the proper ways ofkeeping fish. But after undergoing structured lessons in FaaBS, I have learntbetter ways of constructing fish ponds and its management,” Ms Milupitestified.

Ms Milupi said, she wants to gain 100 percentprofit as fish farming is not labour intensive.

“I got 100 kilogrammes and made K5,000 whichhelped to pay my child’s college education. It has also generated interest among my children who have taken keen interest in fish farming,” Ms Milupisaid.

These sentiments typically reflect lessons learnt in the aquaculture value chain where farmers can easily penetrate the market as long as they engage in good fish management which includes; regular feeding to ensure they have table size fish which is tasty and profitable.

This will enable them easily tap into the readily available market. Clearly, to tap into the market, farmers needed to organise themselves as a group in order to enhance their bargaining power and sell to an organised market. This approach will help address the fish deficite estimated at approximately 87,000 metric tonnes.

Now that farmers are aware of the fishing prospects and its tangible benefits, more farmers getting attracted to fish farming, it is expected that the fish deficit will be addressed in the long-term. Admittedly, what has been lacking for a long time in the fish sector is value addition and processing. Thus, Big Nsomba has taken a step in the right direction, which is a positive stride and needs to be sustained even after the phase out of the programme interventions.

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