Uganda explores poultry waste as alternative fish feed ingredients

UGANDA – A new project in Uganda is investigating the use of poultry waste products as alternative feed ingredients for fish farming. 

This initiative, spearheaded by Makerere University’s Department of Fisheries Science, addresses the heavy reliance on imported fish feeds that has long hindered the sector’s development.

Dr Godfrey Kurbiriza Kawooya, the department head, highlighted the potential of locally available resources such as infertile eggs, offal, and male layer chicks as viable raw materials for fish feed production. 

By encouraging local poultry farmers to process these waste products into valuable proteins, the project seeks to reduce Uganda’s dependency on costly imported feeds, which currently account for most of the sub-sector’s feed requirements.

This initiative is expected to yield multiple benefits. In addition to reducing feed importation, it will minimise the environmental impact of poultry and fish farming and create new job opportunities within the country. 

“This project will boost fish and aquaculture production in the country, as many farmers had abandoned the business due to high feed costs,” commented a district fisheries officer.

However, concerns have been raised regarding the high equipment costs necessary to process these waste products safely. Given the financial constraints faced by many local farmers, participants in the project have questioned who will bear these costs.

Uganda’s aquaculture sector, which now accounts for 22% of the country’s fish production, has been grappling with several challenges, including poor access to advisory services, production inputs, and post-harvest processing facilities. 

Among these, the issue of poor-quality feeds remains a significant concern for fish farmers. 

Earlier this year, farmers and dealers called on the government for support, citing the low standards of locally produced feeds, which have led to stunted fish growth, low profitability, and a decline in active fish farmers.

Despite government support through the National Agriculture Advisory Services—providing resources such as fingerlings and feed—a pressing need remains for a dedicated fish feed processing facility to ensure the quality and consistency of locally produced feeds. 

The absence of such facilities has driven many farmers to rely on more expensive imported feeds from Denmark, Israel, Mauritius, and the Netherlands.

To address these challenges, construction began in 2023 on Uganda’s first dedicated aqua-feed mill. 

This facility is expected to play a crucial role in improving the quality and availability of fish feeds, thereby supporting the further development of the aquaculture sector in Uganda.

Aquaculture is recognised as one of Uganda’s fastest-growing sectors, with significant potential for further expansion. 

Recent developments, including the introduction of cage farming on Lake Victoria and the entry of international fish farming players, have been pivotal in driving this growth. 

However, the sector’s success remains closely tied to overcoming feed production and quality challenges, which are critical to ensuring the sustainability and profitability of fish farming in Uganda.

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