2. BACKGROUND

2.1 General

During the first half of this decade Zambia has suffered considerably from the decline of the world market price of their principal export, copper, and has been faced with a deficit balance of payments ever since. A shortage of fertilizers and machinery, which followed austerity measures limiting foreign exchange expenditure, has been a serious constraint to agricultural development in recent years, and shortages of agricultural consumer goods and stock feeds for livestock production occur frequently. The imports of fisheries products from neighbouring countries, which traditionally supplemented domestic fish production, have been cut drastically. Consequently, fish, which is an important source of animal protein, especially for the lower income population, is becoming increasingly scarce.

2.2 Fisheries

For 1976¹ the total production of the Zambian fisheries was 56 367 metric tons, including an estimated 500 t from fish culture. During the same year, approximately 5 000 t of fish were imported, while the total consumption was 61 367 t. The per caput consumption of fish was 12.3 kg, as shown in Table 1, compared with 16.5 kg in 1971.

Demand for fish is high in Zambia. In the overall animal protein supply, fish represents 57 percent of protein consumption for urban African dwellers and 65 percent for rural African dwellers (World Bank, 1978).

Projections from several sources indicate a substantial decrease in local fish production in future years; estimates range from 15 000 to almost 40 000 t through the 1980s. If current domestic production does not rise as expected, the supply/demand balance will worsen (World Bank, 1978).

The World Bank (1978) estimated that in 1985 the supply of fish from natural waters will be approximately 61 000 t and the projected demand will be 86 000 t. Thus, the unfilled demand will be 25 000 t.

¹ 1976 was the last year for which reliable data could be obtained in mid-1978

Table 1

Supply and Consumption of Fish 1971–76 (in tons)

¹ Figures from 1971–74 are adjusted from the old official figures to be consistent with the new system started in 1975

² Minor fisheries such as streams, large dams and rivers are not covered by the department's statistical system; therefore, a nominal figure is given

³ Fish culture refers to all artificial water areas, ponds and conservation dams, but excludes large dams such as Kariba, Itezhi-tezhi, and Mkushi. As statistics are not yet available, a nominal figure is provided

Source: Williams, Colin, Economic Appraisal of the Fishing Industry in Zambia, Department of Fisheries, June 1977, in World Bank, 1978. Zambia Agri-Industrial Development Report of a Reconnaissance Mission

A World Bank Project Identification Mission, which visited Zambia in September/October 1978, recommended aquaculture as an alternative means of fish production and suggested exploring, through pilot projects, the technical, financial, and economic viability of fish culture in Zambia.

2.3 Aquaculture

Fish farming started in Zambia in the years 1958–60 and by the end of 1965 there were about 1 231 ponds with a total area of approximately 100 ha. Production was estimated to be 88.5 t of fresh fish (Meschkat, 1967). After this explosive initial development, fish culture in Zambia came to a standstill. As shown in Table 2, the number of ponds in use remained the same in 1977. However, experimental and limited pilot-scale operations have demonstrated that small- or large-scale fish farming, using indigenous species and feed materials, can be highly productive and profitable. An insufficient appreciation of the basic requirements of an effective aquaculture development programme and a consequent inadequacy of governmental support activities (extension service, training, etc.) have handicapped the orderly and rapid development of the industry.

Table 2

Zambia - Census of Private Ponds and Dams (September 1977)

(a) Survey not made

Source: Department of Fisheries, Lusaka (Zambia)

Due to the inability of natural fisheries to fill the widening gap between supply and demand, the Department of Fisheries of Zambia has placed emphasis on large-scale commercial fish farming in recent years. Experimental work conducted by the department, mainly in 1974 and 1975, has demonstrated a relatively high productivity (6 600 kg/ha) on an experimental level at the Chilanga Fish Farm (Kavalec, 1975; Williams, 1977).