Fish

Hitamo ururimi:

Fish Pond

Fish pond

The purpose of fish farming is the increase of production to meet the needs of the population, within the framework of efforts aimed at ensuring food security.

A farmer who wishes to initiate fish farming needs fish pond (s), a reliable source of water, juvenile fish ( fingerlings) to stock the pond and fish feed to start.

By 2020, the Rwandan population is expected to be around 16 million and the needs in fish production will be 112,000MT per annum so that Rwanda can reach the average sub-Saharan per capita consumption of 6.6kg/person/year and 265,600 MT to reach the global average of 16.6kg/person/year.

Rwanda has got 17 aquaculture stations ( Rwasave, Kigembe, Runyinya, Rushashi, Ruli, Nkungu, Ngarama, Rusumo, Cyamutara, Muko, Bwafu, Ndorwa, Kazabe, Mabanza, Kivumu, Karengera and Nyamishaba). Rwanda has got an extensive hydrological system characterized by a dense network of lakes, rivers and wetlands which feed into two major drainage basins: Nile to the East and Congo to the West. About 8% of the entire country (210,000 Ha) is covered by water. Lakes occupy about 128,000 ha, rivers about 7,260 Ha, while water in wetlands and valleys occupy about 77,000 Ha ( Master Plan for fisheries and Fish farming in Rwanda).

1. FISH PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

1. 1. FISH POND FARMING: it involves concentration of fish in production units in suitable watersheds which are well supplied in water with appropriate environment.

1.1. Construction of a fish pond

The construction of fish pond must take into account the altitude, type of soil ( mainly clay soil), quantity and quality of available water;
Construction of water canal
Surface: at least 5 (20×25 m)
Depth of water at the entry: between 40 and 60 cm and at the point of draining 1,10-1,20 m
Period of construction works: January-February, June-July

1. 2. Stocking the pond:

Liming the pond: before stocking the pond, lime is applied to reduce the soil acidity and kill harmful micro-organisms (18-25kg/are)
Filling the pond with water,
Fertilizing the pond ( organic manure on 10% of the pond area: 20-25 kg/are),
Stocking/Density/ 2-4 fish per m².
Stocking period: March, September
In Rwanda, used fish species are:

1.3. Fish pond Management

Duration of the cycle: 6-8 months
Feeding fish throughout the farming period
Composting of the pond up to 10% of total surface – from 20 to 50 kg of manure/are and per week
Control water level
Harvest- complete emptying of the pond, sell large fish and restock the pond with small ones (February, August)
Maintain water supply canal,
Rehabilitate pond walls when necessary,
Productivity: 20 to 40 kg /are.

Fish Capture

Capture fisheries

In Rwanda, we have 24 lakes including 3 shared lakes: Kivu lake shared with the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Rwanda, Cyohoha and Rweru shared with Burundi.

About 24 species have been reported in lakes of Rwanda but only four species are of economic importance: Limnothrissa miodon commonly known as Isambaza, Nile Tilapia ( oreochromis niloticus), African Catfish (clarias gariepinus) and Haplochromis sp.

Capture fisheries has been practiced in lakes and rivers but has been overexploited. Regulations are being applied to stop fishing for some period of time and allow the fish to grow and fishing nets are being standardized so as to use those which capture grown up fish and leave the smaller ones to grow.

Cage Production

Tank based aquaculture

Raising fish in tanks is commonly known as “closed systems”. Fish is raised in tanks which are supplied with clean water. Tanks can be made with concrete, fibre glass, metals of high density, poly-fibre supported by wooden or metallic frames. Tanks can be square, triangular, circular or oval.

Cage production

In cage fish farming , fish is raised in containers enclosed on all sides and bottom with mesh material that secures them inside while allowing free water exchange with the surrounding environment.

Currently, we have cage fish production in Kivu, Burera and Ruhondo lakes but can also be practiced in other appropriate lake bays. Before a farmer establishes cage production, he/she has to request the licence from competent authorities and seek advice from professionals from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources..

Challenges of fish farming in Rwanda

Challenges encountered in fish farming in Rwanda are: seed, feed, technology as well as capital and market.

Seed: Rwanda’s capacity to produce fingerlings is limited. Only one centre of Kigembe produces fingerlings for fish ponds and cannot serve all fish farmers to their satisfaction.

Feed: appropriate fish feeds are imported from the neighboring countries or small fish farmers try to formulate their own feeds using locally available products. Those local feeds are not floating and farmers use big quantities and record big losses.

Technology: technology in fish farming is still low. Professionals in fish farming are still few and work for government institutions. They try to train fish farmers but do not reach a big number.

Fish Maintenance Work

Fish Maintenance work

Maintenance work

. Clean up outlet canals

• Upgrade water inlet canals

• Erosion control works near the ponds

• Dry out the pond for a period of 15days at least according to weather conditions (February, August)

Fertilizing the Ponds

Lime will have to be used to correct the acidity of peat soils and of the water in areas where they occur’
To obtain high yields with T. nilotica, T. macrochir and common carp (C. carpio), fertilization of the ponds has to be carried out regularly. Either organic or inorganic fertilizers may be used, but recent increases in the price of chemical fertilizers may greatly limit their use in Rwanda, taking also into account local transport problems, especially in remote areas. Inorganic fertilizers include superphosphates, ammonium compounds and urea. Organic fertilizers might include animal manures, vegetable compost and artificial manure; the last named is made by composting vegetable matter and adding urea or some other source of nitrogen.

Fish farming associated with livestock

There is a technique that consists of associating fish farming with swine rearing, chickens, rabbits or ducks above or nearby fish ponds. This technique allows to double the productivity of a pond through fertilization and to obtain additional output due to this breeding on the same unit of area.

Fish Record Keeping

Fish record keeping

Record keeping in fish farming helps the farmer to know the investment made in the fish farming activities. It also help the farmer to predict his/her production and harvesting period.

Record to be kept include the following: