Cage farming is booming business in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to data from the World Fish Center, fishing provides income for about 10 million people, half that number being women. The sector is responsible for the protein supply of over 200 million people. Currently, there are more than 200,000 fishermen in East Africa, over 70,000 fishing craft, and more than 1500 landing sites. Even so, fish consumption in the region is the lowest globally, creating a need for an extra 2.6 million tons in a year. Countries such as Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Madagascar and Burkina Faso are going into cage fish farming on medium and large-scale basis. The sector faces several challenges including fish theft, problems with fish feeding aggravated by the fluctuating water temperatures, and record and data handling. Use of internet sensors is, however, coming to farmer’s rescue but there is more that needs to be done. Read the full article at Biz Community.
Dear D –
The application of internet technologies is streamlining the fish farming sector and solving its biggest challenge—the application of best fishing practices. Kenyan-based Dave Oketch, founded the RioFish Company whose aim is to create sustainable livelihoods and increase food security by reducing fish deaths and fish food wastage. The company came up with the AquaRech app which consists an app, a thermometer for the fish cages, and a website. With the use of sensors which send information about water temperatures to the app, farmers get daily feed quantities for seven months which prevents over or underfeeding of fish, a major cause of fish deaths. The app’s website is an online trading platform connecting traders to fish farmers and farmers to feed suppliers. In Uganda, the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute is also developing a mobile app which will provide a platform for Information dissemination and feedback in the East African Region. There still exists an investment gap required for more productive outcomes, as farmers cite high cost of investments in ICT as a barrier to increased productivity.
What are your thoughts about supporting technological investments in the cage farming sector in Africa? Share.