Aquaculture Project Boosts Livelihoods for Farmers in Ntchisi

By Luke Magombo

Blantyre, Malawi

Fish farming is gaining importance in Malawi as farmers look for practical ways to increase income and improve household nutrition beyond traditional crop production.

Farmers feeding Fingerlings

In Ntchisi District, aquaculture received a boost after CDF Canada distributed 30,000 chambo fingerlings to five local fish farming clubs. The initiative aims to strengthen fish production while encouraging farmers to diversify their sources of income.

CDF Canada Integrated Aquaculture and Agriculture Specialist, Tiwonge Soko, said the slow growth of the fish farming sector is largely due to limited technical knowledge and inadequate support for farmers. She explained that many smallholder farmers are interested in aquaculture but lack access to quality inputs and training.T

he fingerlings distribution, supported through funding from Norway, is part of a wider effort to improve aquaculture productivity and promote sustainable farming practices at community level.

Beneficiary farmers have welcomed the intervention. Benson Simulemba, Chairperson of Kanthu Mkhama Fish Club, said the project is expected to ease economic pressures faced by members by providing an additional and reliable source of income.

CDF Canada is implementing similar aquaculture support programmes in Thyolo, Zomba, Chitipa, Rumphi, Mzimba, Dowa and Nkhotakota, signalling growing interest in fish farming as a viable agricultural enterprise.

Agricultural experts say strengthening aquaculture can play a key role in improving food security, enhancing rural livelihoods and supporting the development of local fish markets across the country.


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