Zimbabwe’s aquaculture sector gets boost from local feed hubs 

ZIMBABWE – Zimbabwe’s aquaculture industry is being revitalised through a combination of grassroots innovations and sweeping legislative reform, as international partners and local stakeholders work together to expand sustainable fish farming, reduce costs, and improve livelihoods.

At the centre of this push is the FISH4ACP initiative, spearheaded by the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with funding from the European Union (EU) and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). 

The project is promoting local feed production using black soldier fly larvae and establishing fingerling hubs to strengthen supply chains across the country.

“Our goal is to empower local fish farmers with the resources and knowledge they need to thrive. By supporting local feed production and ensuring access to quality fingerlings, we can unlock the full potential of aquaculture in Zimbabwe,” said Paul Mwera, FISH4ACP project coordinator in Zimbabwe.

Cutting costs with black soldier fly feed

One of the project’s breakthroughs has been research into alternative protein sources for aquafeeds. In collaboration with Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT), FISH4ACP has been testing black soldier fly larvae as a substitute for conventional feed.

“The trials in Karoi confirmed that black soldier fly feed performs comparably well with conventional feed. We believe that black soldier fly-based feed can significantly reduce the cost of fish farming by 40 percent while maintaining the nutritional value required for optimal fish growth,” said CUT researcher Robert Musundire.

The knowledge exchange has extended beyond Zimbabwe, with CUT partnering Uganda University on black soldier fly production. The research also revealed that black soldier fly frass can serve as an effective pesticide on banana plantations in Mutasa district.

Practical applications are already underway. In Honde Valley, farmer Fortune Garapo has upgraded his feed plant, Aquadelicacy, with FISH4ACP support. 

Equipped with new machinery, training, and starter colonies, the facility now supplies affordable feed to over 300 farmers, 44% of whom are women. 

“Before FISH4ACP, accessing affordable fish feed was a major hurdle. Now, with the black soldier fly technology and support from the project, we can produce high-quality feed locally, boosting fish production and improving the livelihoods of our community,” Garapo said.

Fingerling hubs transform supply

Access to fingerlings has long been a bottleneck for small-scale fish farmers, but that is changing. In partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Zimbabwe Fish Producers Association (ZFPA), FAO has established a women-led distribution hub in Honde Valley. 

The centre houses seven tanks capable of holding 420,000 fingerlings and has the potential to supply two million fingerlings in a single season—enough to produce 600 tonnes of fish valued at US$1.8 million.

“This hub has made a huge difference for us. We no longer have to travel long distances and risk the survival of the fingerlings. Now, we have easy access to quality fingerlings right here in our community,” said farmer Elizabeth Zibangwe from Nyakurimwa village.

New fisheries bill sets vision for growth

Alongside these grassroots initiatives, Zimbabwe is preparing for a major policy shift with its first-ever Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, developed through FISH4ACP support and recently validated by stakeholders. The bill, tabled before parliament in May 2025, provides a comprehensive framework for regulating and expanding the sector.

“The bill provides a comprehensive and cohesive legislative framework which represents a critical turning point for Zimbabwe’s fisheries and aquaculture sector,” said Patrice Talla, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa and FAO Representative in Zimbabwe.

The legislation aims to lay the foundation for a US$1 billion fish economy by 2032, targeting 14,000 tonnes of farmed tilapia annually and US$22 million in added value. It is expected to foster investment, safeguard supply chains, and create jobs, with special focus on women and youth.

EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe Jobst von Kirchmann said the reforms were already delivering results: “These milestones lay the groundwork for an inclusive and sustainable fish value chain that can unlock millions in added value, create decent jobs, especially for women and youth, and contribute meaningfully to national food security and economic resilience.”

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