Monday, October 16, 2017

17/10/2017: Part one: AwF development in Malawi

by Clifford Spencer, Chairman, AwF

The UK based AwF activities continue to grow and I am pleased to describe the latest developments in the charity's increasingly full calendar

 


After our presence at the World Aquaculture Society conference in Cape Town we have since undertaken London meetings with directors of the charity Christian Aid and follow on discussions on aquaculture assistance.

One particular emerging AwF project is based in Malawi, and involves assisting subsistence/smallholder fish farmers at Cape Maclear at the base of Lake Malawi. This project which is founded upon the concept of an energy facilitated market place has excellent prospects as Christian Aid is already present there involved in other activities and thus able to lend a sound base to AwF work.

Also we are currently in discussion with the UK R&D establishment to assist in work in Malawian aquaculture and we are also involved in direct discussions with the Malawian government, donors and the LUANAR node at Lilonge University, Malawi.

The latter contact is through the appreciated co-operation of Professor Emmanuel Kaunda its Deputy Vice Chancellor and Professor of Fisheries Science. Professor Kaunda has for instance been instrumental in configuring the shape of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) National Agricultural Investment Plans (NAIPS) for many countries in the region.

He is also the co-founder of African Fisheries Experts Network (AfrFishNet), a fisheries voice for CAADP to ensure that fish is appropriately positioned in the continental work plan. Professor Kaunda for instance facilitated the African Union meeting on how livestock can be mainstreamed in the CAADP Results Framework after the renowned and historic Malabo declaration of the African Union.

He is also the Coordinator of the African Union Aquaculture Working Group as well as Coordinator of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Fish Node of the Southern Africa Network on Biosciences (SANBio). Malawi has a glaring economic potential in integrated fish farming.

It is estimated that there are just over 6,000 farmers currently engaged in aquaculture with fish production increasing from 800 Metric Tonnes (MT) in 2006 to nearly 5,000 MT and making a contribution of in excess of K5 billion to the Malawi economy in 2015.

It is further estimated that approximately 10-20 percent (11,650km2) of the landmass of Malawi is suitable for aquaculture but less than 300 hectares are currently under fish farming in the country.


Read the full article, HERE.

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