Aquaculture: The Answer for African Animal Protein Deficiency

Aquaculture defined as the farming of aquatic organisms including fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants. Farming implies some form of intervention in the rearing process to enhance production, such as regular stocking, feeding, protection from predators, etc. Farming also implies individual or corporate ownership of the stock being cultivated.

Global aquaculture data signify a disturbing scenario where Africa is lagging behind other jurisdictions in a significant way. To put this statement in perspective let’s review the following statistics from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): In 2008 China dominated the global aquaculture industry by producing close to 32.7 million tones of aquaculture products contributing a whopping 62% of the global total aquaculture production which stood at 52.5 million tones and was ranked first out of 187 countries. Africa’s total production was at 100 464 tones and Zimbabwe accounted for 0.13% of the African total aquaculture output at only 132 tones. The highest ranked African country, Egypt (ranked 27^th) produced about 64 thousand tones accounting for 64% of African production.

A Chinese Fish Farmer Holding a Giant Grouper (Credit Burt Lum- Courtesy of Cheng  Ann-Chang)

Thus Africa and Zimbabwe need a serious relook on this particular sector in order to close the gap and ensure fish protein self-sufficiency. The benefits of this sector cannot be overemphasized. Many African communities struggle to acquire sufficient protein dietary requirements to sustain life. Many rely on fresh and dry vegetables as relish to accompany main staples (maize, yam, cassava and rice) and other staples (sorghum, millet, rapoko, wheat and other small grains) in the Savanna particularly in the interior of the vast continent. Protein deficiency is particularly severe during lean dry seasons.  Animal protein sources for many communities remain chicken (meat and eggs), bovine, sheep and goats (meat and milk and milk products) and pork. Plant or vegetable protein comes mainly from beans and peanuts. During the onset of the rainy season, communities also augment their protein intake from birds, insects, mice, crickets and so forth. These, however, are short-lived and cannot be considered sustainable. In the equatorial regions and sparsely populated savannas, particularly the savannas which border deserts and even in the deserts communities help themselves with bush meat. This particular protein source is unsustainable because often governments outlaw the killing of wild animals. Even where government capacity to ensure compliance is hampered by inadequate resources to monitor vast areas or where it is explicitly acceptable to hunt wild animals, the practice often results in extinction of species- due to the tragedy of commons. For those privileged African communities residing along the coasts of seas and oceans or shores of inland natural and man-made lakes, they surely harvest fish to nourish themselves and their families and in many occasions trade the surplus and eke a living, humble as it might be, from fishing.

To underscore the vital importance of fish as a source of animal protein, FAO’s authoritative paper entitled, “World Review of Fisheries and Aquaculture” stated that fish, including molluscs, crustaceans, provides more than 60% (4.5 billion souls) of the world’s population with almost 17% of animal protein in 2007/2008. Certainly there is great scope of increasing this figure, simply by broadening accessibility of fish resources to many- what aquaculture is promising and able to do.

Protein is therefore critical for a balanced diet of adults and is fundamental for the sustenance of life of toddlers and the youth. Thus people cannot talk of attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) when they cannot provide sufficient protein requirements to their citizens.

The tragedy is that the Sub-Saharan African fishing industry is fragmented and generally inefficient. It is also severely undercapitalized. So, even if the African waters have enough fish resources to provide enough fish protein to African citizens, the current scale and scope of commercial exploitation of fish is such that many, especially in the interior, remain grossly underserved. In fact, fish is one of the most expensive sources of protein in many landlocked countries and even in coastal countries the prices at which fresh fish is sold in the interior parts is beyond the reach of many. Fish, fresh fish in particular, thus remain a delicacy for the privileged few who have deep pockets to afford such a “luxury”. But how can food, important food like fish be the preserve of the select few with the rest confined to malnutrition and consequently malnutrition-related life-threatening diseases? 

As if this was not enough, Africa finds itself confronted by another demon- illegal fishing in its waters.  Africa is estimated to be losing over $60 billion yearly due to illegal fishing by foreigners off its vast coastline. These “pirate” ships engage in unsustainable fishing methods, wherein the industrial fishing vessels catch massive quantities of fish for export. They end up only keeping around a quarter of their catch – throwing the rest back dead. That callous behavior is threatening the marine life and every world citizen is a loser. But of course an African is the biggest loser, because fishing industry sustains multitudes. It is a source of livelihood for communities living along the coast. 

The scale and hypocrisy around the issue of illegal fishing was summed by Sierra Leone Head of State and Government, His Excellency, President Koroma, when he said that Sierra Leone was not allowed to export fish to the EU, but fish caught illegally in the nation’s waters are repackaged elsewhere and end up for sale across Europe. 

It is the very issue of illegal vessels harvesting fish in the East Coast, off the coast of Somalia which arguably caused the emergence of an ancient criminal activity of piracy. But when piracy is properly defined surely the Somali rebel is as guilty as the crew of the illegal fishing vessels, for they all practice piracy.

African leadership in conjunction with world leaders should do something urgently to stamp this scourge. Hope is not lost and we acknowledge individuals who have continued to highlight this issue in the international fora. One such distinguished world citizen is Gareth Thomas, the UK’s International Development Minister. It is refreshing to hear him saying, “I call on world leaders and regulators to take a much more effective approach to monitoring fish stocks, policing fishing and fishing rights, and ensuring that fish stocks survive for generations to come.”

So, if the African fishing industry was well-organized, then perhaps the natural fish resources could be enough to sustain all Africans at prices they can afford. But the truth is that it’s not and will take some time for it to develop (assuming that the marine fish stocks would have survived the current illegal fishing), thus something should be done now to assist families to access fish protein. The answer is aquaculture.

Besides provision of protein, aquaculture provides employment opportunities to communities. Successful aquaculture ventures can absorb the unemployed creating a multiplier effect to communities through increased demand for goods and services, increased revenues into the fiscus, improving capacity utilization and so forth.

The beauty of Aquaculture is that it does not compete with arable farming and can utilize waste land. The farmer who wishes to venture into aquaculture will thus increase productivity of his farm without sacrificing other profitable farm activities.

Through group marketing aquaculture can raise foreign exchange through production of fish and other products for the export market. The foreign exchange resources so generated can be used for importation of critical medicines, capital goods and payment of dues to the external sector.

Aquaculture can sustain economic growth, especially if fish projects are huge enabling the attainment of economies of scale and therefore contributing to the countries’ GDP. The projects can also undertake value addition of fish resources produced to increase value. It is pertinent to note that the bulk of aquaculture production from China come from small-scale fish farms.

What are the challenges of the small African fish farmer?

The main challenges afflicting the small African farmer in his quest to venture into aquaculture are as follows:

Capital inadequacy: African farmers are generally poor and struggle to survive from their barren communal land. Due to a combination of factors, they are vulnerable members of the society who are at the mercy of political upheavals, climatic change and economic stagnation mainly caused by huge debt overhang. They live from hand to mouth and cannot raise capital as they are too poor to save. Many are unbankable. External intervention from governments, the private sector and donor community is needed. Capital is needed for capital expenditure and working capital to ensure that the farmer rear, protect, harvest and transport the perishable product to the market in good quality.

Capacity (Technical knowhow)- Again aquaculture is fairly a new phenomenon for many African farmers. They require extensive assistance in capacity building for them to run aquaculture projects profitably and sustainably. They also require access to productive fish breeds, research on effective breeding and feeding methods, amongst others technical requirements.

Production volumes insufficient to break even- without proper planning the fish projects of small farmers may end up being for subsistence because volumes will be insignificant rendering their projects unviable. Without proper marketing channels, they may lack access to lucrative markets which boost their revenues.

Lack of feeds in their respective countries – Fish feeds have been known to deteriorate in quality over time meaning that importation of feeds might not be a viable solution to the shortage of feeds. It is a potent challenge facing farmers and countries willing to grow the aquaculture industry.

Healthy Fish  in a Successful Aquaculture Project

Way forward

A few years ago the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) issued a declaration stating that fish farming in Africa will have to expand by 250% in the next 10 years just to maintain the present (low) per capita consumption of fish in the continent.

Aquaculture can still be practiced on a small-scale basis until consolidation occurs in future. Ideally profitable aquaculture projects should be large-scale producing several tones of fish per annum and be highly mechanized with ability to add value to the produce to generate more revenue. These large projects operated by the private sector, but monitored by governments for environmental protection, will embark on out grower schemes subcontracting small famers to produce targeted amount of fish. This model will address the capital and capacity constraints and guarantees a ready market for the smaller farmer, who ordinarily would find it difficult to secure lucrative markets.

It would appear aquaculture’s success is tied with industrialization of Africa. Many African countries require industrial capacity to manufacture fish feeds which can reach farmers in good quality for profitable fish operations.

The importance of aquaculture currently and in future is immense. In 2006 aquaculture accounted for 43% of total global fish food supply and by 2008 the contribution had risen to 46%. It is therefore fair and reasonable to predict that by 2050, aquaculture will dominate the world fish food supply contributing upwards of 60%. But Africa and Zimbabwe needs to do something now not only to close the gap but more importantly to guarantee animal protein self-sufficiency at household level.