Aquaculture is a source of animal protein that is not dangerous to human life. The shortage of meat production and consumption are correlated to the increase in world population. The fish is a potential alternative way of filling that gap.The government of Rwanda, through MINAGRI and RAB, needs to unlock the untapped potential opportunities in fisheries and aquaculture by considering the potentiality of inland water bodies such as lakes, ponds, valley dams, rivers, and other water bodies to increase fish production. Many production constraints were identified, and among them is a gap in farmers knowledge and skills that is suitable and conceptualized with the fish pond farming situation. The available resources are not used efficiently to get the quantified production. Some farmers spend a lot of money, which is not equivalent to the production.
Therefore, RARICO was contracted with RAB to disseminate knowledge and skills to the fish pond farmers through teaching by showing. Technicians focus on hands-on skills and equip farmers with well-defined knowledge where they will be able to continue farm activities out of government project support. The total of 100 and five farmers are technically accompanied for the whole production cycle. To enable and ensure their capacity of applying the acquired best aquaculture practices. The knowledge is shared in phases according to the attained step of production, such as pond rehabilitation, liming, water refilling, fertilization, water quality control, stocking, feeding, grading… till harvesting and marketing.
At this time, model farms are the center of knowledge dissemination, where surrounding farmers meet and share their experience but also have the opportunity to learn new things with practices. Model farms are located in Gasabo, Rwamagana, Kayonza, Ngoma, Gatsibo, Nyagatare, Rulindo, Musanze, Gakenke, Burera, Ngororero, Nyamasheke, Rusizi, Nyamagabe, Huye, Gisagara, Nyanza, Ruhango, and Muhanga. Those model farms were created to enable interaction between farmers and knowledge exchange. Finally, they will be Aqua Hub. Surrounding farmers will find different inputs, materials, and postharvest technologies from model farms after three years.
Photo 1: Knowledge and skills transfer conducted at INKINGI Y’URUGO Model farm in GAKENKE District. RARICO Aquaculture technician explained the different methods and steps to follow during pond preparation, removing muds in the pond beds, water quality control and management and feed ration calculation.
Photo 2: Demonstration of fish capture. Farmers and facilitators were trained on catch with fish nets. At this stage, they learned how to catch juvenile fish for stocking in grow-out ponds. After catching them, they are separated according to their ABW gained after test weighing
Photo 3: Demonstration of juvenile counting which are ready for stocking in the grow out ponds. They are counted one by one to ensure the number of stocked fingerlings in a given pond.
Ponds are stocked based on the surface and chosen stocking density. Model farms have different stocking rates, which were determined according to different factors like aggro-ecology, management, and climate. The above picture (photo 3) explains the practicalities related to counting fish and weighing fish feeds. The feeds are obviously weighted according to calculated biomass in the ponds. This helps to manage efficiently the feeds and resources toward optimal production. In the coming month, farmers will be trained on fish grading and calculation of FCR.