NEWS:

6 Jan, 2017


Researchers at the field
Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) through its Aquaculture and fisheries Science, Human Nutrition and Health (HNH) and Food Science and Technology (FST) departments has launched a three year project in a bid to enhance the contribution of fish to health, nutrition and socio-economic development of rural households.

The project which is being implemented in partnership with two Germany Organizations: Fraunhofer Research Institute for Marine Biotechnology (EMB), and Gesellschaft fuer Marine Aquakultur mbH (GMA) has been funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL).


Dr Daud Kassam, the Principal Investigator (PI) of the project known as “I love fish” said the will create linkages between fish value chain and several other agricultural commodities.


“This approach will enhance the production of the Chambo fish species through breeding and hybridization using specialized solar powered hatcheries which will ease the current electricity challenges facing the country.


On the other hand, “the project seeks to increase productivity of fish farmers by employing an Integrated Agriculture Aquaculture (IAA) systems approach which is efficient in use of farm resources and reducing environmental pollution from fish farms”, said Dr Kassam.


He said the project will also conduct training courses for smallholder farmers to build their capacity in fish production; while monitoring the changes in health status and food habits of local families and especially children and elderly after implementation of the IAA system to ensure a benefit for the whole community.


Dr. Kassam further added that the project is supporting three Malawian Masters students who have been offered full scholarships at LUANAR and will support the construction of a greenhouse and a solar-based hatchery unit at LUANAR, just to mention a few.


Currently the project is working with over 300 small-scale fish farmers in Mchinji and Nkhotakota districts through the Innovative Fish Farmers Network Trust (IFFNT) a fish farmer’ organization and the Quantum for Urban Agriculture, Livelihoods and Environmental Sanitation (QUALivES) to ensure that the developed technologies are adopted by end users which are fish farming communities.




By Dennis Chinkhata and Patricia Nkhoma