On Wednesday we drove deep into the countryside of central Mozambique’s Gondola district to a tiny village where two farmers have learned a new kind of farming: acquaculture. Since he started in 2002, the farmer we met, Zacarias Tome, has built 5 fishponds on the terraced land below the village. He said his construction assistants are his wife and children. He is one of 153 farmers who are participating in a regional Project for the Promotion of Small Scale Aquaculture – PROAQUA – that is supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Aquaculture is an important means of diversifying farming, allowing a farmer to spread risk (should his crops fail); it can be done at a minimum cost so even very poor farmers like Zacarias can participate and raise one more thing to feed and improve the nutrition of their families. Zacarias started harvesting his first fish in 2013 and he showed us his ponds with great pride. He raises enough fish to feed his family, and to sell for added income. Though he understands the fish are an important source of nutrition, he does not, however, eat the Tilapia himself, but he reassured us that his children do!
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 08:45:00 +0000
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