Late 1987, the Integrated Rural Development Programme, Luapula (IDRP-LP), and the Department of Fisheries (DoF) requested the assistance of ALCOM (Aquaculture for Local Community Development Programme) in planning and implementing a fish farming development project in Luapula Province, Zambia.
To determine the magnitude of fish farming in the Province, a fish farmer survey was carried out by ALCOM and DoF in 1988 (ALCOM Field Document No. 9). It resulted in the following data on the number of fish farmers.
Table 1 - Number of Fish Farmers in Luapula Province ALCOM/DoF Survey, August 1989
| Practising Fish Farmers | Former Fish Farmers | |
|---|---|---|
Kawambwa | 98 | 5 |
Mansa | 60 | 18 |
Mwense | 15 | 11 |
Samfya | 19 | 10 |
TOTAL | 192 | 44 |
Fish farming is a growing activity in Luapula. According to August 1989 data, there were 173 and 112 farmers respectively in Kawambwa and Mansa Districts.
Luapula is Zambia's top fish producing province with an average annual catch of 20,000 metric tonnes. Fishing is the main economic activity in which almost 50% of the population is involved at least part-time. Agriculture is the second economic activity (Gould, N.D.).
The need for a fish farming development project in Luapula stems from the following:
65% of the fish from capture fisheries is marketed outside the province (mainly in the Copperbelt and Zaire), where consumers have a higher purchasing power;
Demand for fish in the province is estimated at 16,500 metric tonnes per year, assuming a daily protein need of 100 grams for vulnerable groups (children, pregnant and lactating women) and 60 grams for other members of the population;
The fish remaining in the province is economically out of reach for many people, and does not reach parts of the province. Thus, there is an unsatisfied demand for (cheap) fish.
Favourable conditions exist for fish farming development, since fish is an accepted food item and surface and ground water are abundant.
The Department of Fisheries (DoF), ALCOM and the Integrated Rural Development Programme IRDP have agreed that :-
IRDP, Luapula Province will fund the fish farming activities as a provincial project;
DoF will be the executing authority, and;
ALCOM will provide technical assistance.
The parties also agreed to work towards integration of fish culture into existing farming systems.
The terms of reference for the mission (13 August to 10 October) were :-
to study existing farm household systems;
to study the relationship between fish farming practices and farm household systems;
to propose how fish farming can be improved and integrated within the existing farming systems.
The mission consisted of Mr. A. de Kartzow, Agronomist, Consultant, Mr. C. Tembo, DoF, Fish Culturist, Mr. P. van der Heijden, ALCOM Aquaculturist (APO) and Ms. J. van der Schoot, ALCOM Socio-economist (APO).
The report focuses on findings and recommendations related to the integration of fish farming into the farm household system. Basic information on Luapula (ecology, political division, roads, population, education, social organization, fisheries, agriculture and industry) is presented in Appendix 1.
