New innovative model developed in Uganda to help local farmers grow and sell tilapia

Rural Aquaculture Development (RAD), an early-stage Ugandan business supporting the growth of the local aquaculture sector, has developed new innovative model that enables smallholder producers in Rukungiri, western Uganda, to grow and sell tilapia and reduce poverty in the area.

Through the service delivery model, RAD helps farmers access aquaculture technologies hence supporting the local aquaculture sector further improving smallholder livelihoods in the western part Uganda.

According to Dr. Tim Messeder, one of the founders the entrepreneurial business, they started operations in the region in May 2021 by constructing ponds on land provided by North Kigezi Diocese and since February 11, 2022 when they made their first fish sale, there has been rapid expansion.

“Today, RAD is a ‘one stop shop’ for aquaculture producers offering ‘bolt on’ services including a hatchery, supplementary feeding through Black Soldier Fly (BSF), water testing and equipment rental, cold chain storage, and access to aquaculture expertise,” said Tim.

“As a result there has been consistent rise in our production figures giving us a solid market position something that has been made possible by continuous supply of smaller, affordable fish to the local area, a strategy that allows us to meet market demands while ensuring our products remain accessible to a wide range of consumers.”

Strategic partnerships

In addition to the new developed service model, RAD has established strategic partnerships with local suppliers and distributors to enhance its distribution network.

According to Pauson Mpabukire Joshua co-founder of RAD, these partnerships have enabled them to reach a broader customer base and ensure the availability and accessibility of the enterprise’s products across the region.

Initially, the small scale fish producers in this area faced challenges of obtaining quality fingerlings, had limited access to fresh fish and often relying on smoked fish which we have tried to address through our innovative models,” said Mpabukire.

Production capacity

RAD’s facilities consist of two main sections which include four-pond hatchery section and three-pond production section.

“In terms of quantities, we strive to produce a significant volume of fish through these facilities – with a target of around 30,000 fingerlings per month,” said Tim.

However, specific figures may vary, depending on factors such as the breeding cycle, seasonal variations and market demand. Only in the last three months RAD begun to supply fingerlings to farmers, as it has been focusing on quality management and ensuring the production facilities are established to meet the market demand.

Breeding programme

RAD has a well-organized breeding programme where selected brood-stock is placed in a breeding pond in a ratio of 1:3 (1 male to 3 females) for two days.

In a period of 21 days, we are able to raelised approximately 3,000 to 4,000 fry per cycle,” said Mpabukire.

The newly harvested fry are then natured powdered food till fingerling stage. Fingerlings weighing 10g are used to stock production ponds with a capacity of 3,000 fingerlings each where they are reared to 140g maximum weight before being sold out.

Besides BSF larvae, frass produced by the flies is used as a natural organic fertiliser to boost growth of beneficial algae and aquatic vegetation that ultimately enhance the ecosystem within the farming environment.

Preserving the catch

One of the unique facilities RAD has is the ice machine. This machine plays vital role in preserving the quality of the catch for an extended period and it can also be made to the farmers collaborating with the enterprise to transport their fish.

This is in addition to bicycles and motorbikes that enable the farm to deliver harvested fish to the consumers in time.

Other than producing and selling tilapia, RAD is also training farmers in n BSF farming techniques and provides free extension services to support their fish feeding practices.