Tilapia fish farming in Zimbabwe! An in-depth analysis

by | May 2, 2015 | opportunities | 42 comments

This powerful story is told when Peter had fished all night and couldn’t catch any fish. It’s amazing what happened next when he had an encounter with Jesus. What then does this have to do with fish farming in Zimbabwe? Tilapia in particular! Everything I guess. The second time Peter had an encounter with fish was when Jesus fed the 5000 with three loaves of bread and five fish. And the Lord Jesus before he went back to sit at the right hand of the Father said, ‘Greater miracles than these shall you do’. I believe this includes feeding more than five thousand from 5 tilapia fish also called Saint Peter’s fish in reference to this very biblical passage. The preaching ends here. Of course, you wouldn’t be reading this article if you don’t already know that tilapia is big business in Zimbabwe. I will reveal to you the secrets to feeding more than 5000 by farming tilapia in Zimbabwe. Interesting?

As you all know, I had suspended fish farming training because our aquaculture specialist had been out and about. I had been trying to tie him down and get him to do a training for ZimInvestors with no success. There are many aquaculture trainers in Zimbabwe but we only managed to identify a few whom we awarded the ZimInvestors training seal. What happens when you get trained by someone who doesn’t know much about tilapia fish farming? Massive mortality will hit you. That’s the greatest danger for any tilapia fish farmer. The secret to reduce mortality is revealed now. Never transfer your fish to water with unionized ammonia concentrations greater than 2 mg/L. However, when gradually acclimated to sub lethal levels, approximately half the fish will survive 3 or 4 days at unionized ammonia concentrations as high as 3 mg/L. Prolonged exposure (several weeks) to un-ionized ammonia concentration greater than 1 mg/L causes losses, especially among fry and juveniles in water with low DO concentration. Take this as a warning shot when doing fish farming projects.

St Peter’s fish is quite an amazing breed. In general, tilapia can survive in pH of 7 with a standard deviation of 3. The most amazing fact is the pond water doesn’t have to be that clean according to our standards of clean water. Tilapia can survive in amazingly dirty water as long as the above conditions have been met. In its natural and uncontrolled environment, tilapia can grow to 5kg though some claim the largest tilapia caught weighed only 3kgs. However most farm-raised Tilapia average 1kg.

Besides what you have read above, you may still be asking yourself this simple question, ‘Why should I consider tilapia fish farming.’ The really simple reasons are tilapia fish are:

  • Easy to raise
  • Fast growing and tasty
  • Able to eat many types of foods and are low on the food chain
  • Highly disease resistant
  • Able to reproduce easily
  • Hardy and can tolerate poor water quality conditions
  • Cheap to raise and sustain

Tilapia can grow fast in well manage

d ponds. Farmers can begin to harvest some fish after 3 to 4 months from stocking. They can do this by conducting partial harvests with nets and traps keeping the larger fish and returning the smaller ones to the pond. This can be done every week or two. It is encouraging for farmers to see the growth of their fish and to be able to eat some. After about 6 to 12 months, depending on the climate, it is crucial to conduct a final harvest in which the water is drained from the pond, all the fish are harvested, and the pond is dried out for 2 weeks. The drying out of the pond after the final harvest is critical and should never be taken for granted.

The market for Tilapia is amazing. The local demand is yet to be met and I doubt if this can happen within 5 years. I have prepared a separate report of the world’s largest tilapia importers and where they import from. Amongst the largest tilapia importers is the United States of America. Our three aquaculture experts are penning down a tilapia farming guide and the questions and issues you will raise will help them give you a perfect product. Ask all those burning questions and I will make sure your questions will be answered in the manual. I have always believed that there is enough for everyone. We can’t all be potato or tobacco farmers. Think niche farming and smile all the way to the bank. Try growing St Peters fish and feed your own 5000. Iam now waiting for all those burning tilapia fish farming questions. Use the comments tab below. As always…To your continued success.

42 Comments

  1. hadley

    nice article, its quite motivating. my question is where can one get the fish to kick start with the project. i live in mutare

    Reply
    • Batsirai ruza

      lake harvest kariba .that’s my feild

      Reply
  2. kudzayi

    good article,im in bulawayo and would like to ask if there are any projects around bulawayo that i can physically visit and see how its done?and how do you make the pond??

    Reply
    • WILLIE VOGEL

      IS there are any projects around Bulawayo that i can physically visit and see how its done?

      Reply
      • Simbarashe Mu

        Unfortunately we arent in Bulawayo. If we get farmers who are willing to let you visit we will email you.

        Reply
  3. Happiness Chikwanha

    Where can i visit to see fish farming in practice?

    Reply
    • WILLIE VOGEL

      Where can i visit to see fish farming in practice nearby bulawayo?

      Reply
  4. Alice Bhudhe

    I’d like to venture into fish farming got a big place. how do l start? M in Mutare.

    Reply
  5. Onismo

    I would like to take up fish farming. Please include me when you post training schedules.

    Reply
  6. Phillip Chits

    Thank you for the beneficial article for Tilapia fish farming.I will be happy if you also include me when you post training schedules

    Reply
  7. Chishamiso

    I would like to make a go at Tilapia fish farming. Include me when you post training schedules.

    Reply
  8. Onnie

    How can i get started

    Reply
  9. arthur

    please include me for next training session

    Reply
  10. Moreblessings

    What is the best climate for tilapia fish farming?

    Reply
  11. Tinashe

    when is your talipia and rabbit trainning in Harare and what the fees

    Reply
  12. fortune

    i would like to start fish farming is it possible on stagnant water like a pond

    Reply
    • Batsirai ruza

      Yes i can grow them in ponds. contact me

      Reply
  13. Promise Kadzura

    how much is needed to kick start the project and what is the payback period. where can we get the feeding.

    Reply
  14. Dumisani Pambuka

    Hie, great article indeed and quite motivating. Please cold you advise on the required inputs if one is to start small scale fish farming. I am very much interested, please inbox me with more details…

    Reply
  15. Kudzanai

    Hi, I would like to learn more about fish farming. Where are the trainings held?

    Reply
  16. shadreck matungwana

    my land is 1700 square metres in Gweru southview area is it possible to grow fish on this land. when will there be a training workshop in Gweru.

    Reply
  17. Tamuka

    Hie,how can i build afish pond using cement and concentrate.

    Reply
  18. francis muranganwa mutsvairi

    thank you fot your article .very informative indeed

    Reply
  19. Morgen

    I have a 12 000 litres size resevoir, is it possible for me to do Fish farming there? I am based in Bulawayo.

    Reply
    • kuda

      im also venturing into that
      try youtube
      there are a lot of guys doing backyard fish farming in tanks successfully

      Reply
  20. Adam Muhita

    Where can I get training for tilapia fish farming in Harare?

    Reply
  21. k chingorw

    I would like to venture into fish farming hw do I go about it mutare mutasa

    Reply
  22. Jane Rhuhwaya

    I live in Byo, have a disused swimming pool which I would like to use for fish farming. i have been encouraged by your article. can I please the training detais

    Reply
  23. Hwarare

    where do we get the fish to start a business? In Chiredzi

    Reply
  24. C.T. Mashonganyika

    Yes! I have now found my redemption towards self – actualization. Please update me with the training schedule details

    Reply
  25. Evelin

    Are there specific regions where fish farming can be best carried out. I live in Marondera and would like to start fish farming in ponds.

    Reply
  26. Enock Malekwa

    thank you for this article it motivates. How large the ponds needs to be to keep 5000 fish? Is this breed suitable in areas with cool temperatures of Nyanga?

    Reply
  27. Kurauone Sithole

    I want general knowledge of size of ponds & the # of fish they can accommodate

    Reply
  28. Caiphas Enos Maponga

    I have just completed building a fishpond measuring 10 m X 10 x at my plot in Masvingo Province. Where can I obtain tilapia fingerlings to stock it?

    Reply
  29. Herbert Mandigo

    Fish farming is good Investments it’s quick money l would like also to join l need your help thanks

    Reply
  30. kasiyani

    I intend to start fish farming in Zvishavane. appealing for any trainers that offer training in Bulawayo or masvingo

    Reply
  31. Tatenda Maburuse

    i want to start this fish farming am in gutu where can i get the breeds and i need contacts to get in touch with thr suppliers

    Reply
  32. T T Nindi

    Quite an amazing article where can I get the Fish and how much is it to start the project

    Reply
  33. Troy

    Good afternoon are there any investors for fish farming I want to start a fish farming business thank you

    Reply
  34. Siphilisiwe Ncube

    Thank you for the above article. I would like to start fish farming too. Where can i go for training and advice in Bulawayo?

    Reply
  35. kudakwashe

    Thank you for such information and i would like to start farming too and train other farmers who are interested in the project

    Reply

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