Rwanda targets to produce more than 106,000 metric tons of fish by 2035, of which around 80,620 metric tons will be from aquaculture and 26,000 metric tons from wild fisheries.
To achieve the target, the government plans to support the private sector in accessing crucial production inputs such as quality seeds, feeds, among others, according to an official from Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB).
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"To help fishermen avoid losses from poor-quality fish seeds, we partnered with hatcheries across the country to implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) that prioritize quality, quantity, and biosecurity,” the Deputy Director General in charge of Animal Resources Research and Technology Transfer at RAB, Solange Uwituze, told The New Times.
"Since 2022, we have been assisting hatcheries in developing and implementing SOPs to enhance the quality and availability of fish seeds for fish farmers, while adhering to strict biosecurity standards. Hatchery staff undergo training on SOP implementation and are given time to meet the required standards. After the training, two rounds of inspections are conducted to assess compliance.”
Uwituze said that on August 28, hatcheries that met SOP requirements were certified, and out of 12 active hatcheries, six achieved certification, while the others are working toward compliance to gain certification.
Additionally, RAB is investing in producing high-quality fish feeds to reduce the costs associated with imports for fish farmers.
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"We are also setting up new local fish feed industries fostering healthy competition, which drives quality improvements and reduces reliance on imports. As the third company joins the industry, followed by a fourth set to launch in November, we are investing in the local value chain, collaborating with experts, we aim to enhance quality, cut costs, and pave the way for sustainable growth in the fishing sector,” Uwituze said, adding that RAB will also provide training and extension services to improve aquaculture farm management.
"We are partnering with technicians and private service providers to deliver hands-on training throughout the entire production cycle, ensuring farmers adopt consistent, phase-by-phase management practices.”
This approach empowers them to optimize feeding, monitor growth daily, and accurately calculate production costs, ultimately maximizing their investments and understanding profit or loss outcomes, she said.
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"We are also laying the groundwork for investment in Rwanda's aquaculture sector by identifying key fish farming sites for investors in lakes Kivu and Muhazi, providing investors with clear and actionable insights.”
With a 12-year plan, from 2023 to 2035, RAB’s goal, she explained, is to boost productivity through innovative fish farming methods, including controlled tank systems, ensuring sustainable growth and maximized returns for investors.
"We are advancing Rwanda's aquaculture sector through a comprehensive animal health and production law, which integrates all animal resources, including fish, while implementing biosecurity plans to prevent diseases,” said Uwituze.
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"Our approach ensures environmentally friendly farming practices and encourages private sector involvement, with policies and training programmes designed to empower private investors in extension services and foster a collaborative approach to sustainable growth,” she said.
Uwituze also said that if RAB increases production through the ongoing interventions, a market for exports will be available on a regional level and the local market.
"We are shifting our research efforts to farmers' own fields, collaborating directly with them to demonstrate progress firsthand. This approach ensures that the results are practical and tailored to their needs, overcoming the challenges faced in traditional trials.”
Uwituze also said that a conducive environment for small and large farmers will be enhanced.
"This means easy access to essential inputs and skilled labor. When services and resources, like fish feed, are readily available in nearby shops, it empowers farmers to operate more efficiently and contributes to local growth, making sustainable farming practices more attainable,” she said.
Previous challenges
Under the fourth strategic plan for agriculture transformation (PSTA 4), Rwanda aimed at tripling fish production from the baseline of 27,000 tonnes in 2016/2017 to 112,000 tonnes in 2023/2024. The same target was expected to be achieved in 2017, under the third strategic plan for agriculture transformation, but the Government extended its deadline as it was not attained during the previous period.
Uwituze told The New Times that the unachieved target was primarily due to the fact that it was established based on the master plan, which assessed potential outputs under conditions of full exploitation, rather than taking into account the resources that were currently available.
"Even though the target was not achieved as anticipated, it increased significantly based on the means and support available. The production was around 13,000 metric tons in 10 years ago, but now it is more than 47,000 metric tons,” said Uwituze.
"The challenges that hindered the production included the unavailability of aquaculture inputs such as feed and seed that made it unattractive for investors who would have to play a vital role to achieve that target. The other challenges related to policy and legal framework as well aquaculture management were progressively handled,” said Uwituze.
Samuel Hakizimana, a fish farmer on Lake Rweru in Bugesera District, told The New Times that several challenges, including last year's flooding, water hyacinths, "and issues with Burundian neighbours,” have contributed to low production levels.
"Last year, we experienced an unprecedented flood, which brought in contaminated water detrimental to fish health. After the floods, many fish, including fingerlings, died. The water from Akagera River and surrounding swamps is where floods normally originated from,” Hakizimana explained.
"Water hyacinths normally contain insects that eat fish and they normally block areas for fish which are going to produce. And our Burundians neighbors normally come at night and overfish. These were our main challenges.”