| ALCOM |
| The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. |
Preface During 1987–90, ALCOM assisted the Department of Fisheries, Zambia, in introducing fish farming in the country's Eastern Province. Visits were made to select villages, slides were shown to interested farmers, advice and guidance on various aspects of fish farming including site selection and pond digging were provided, and the spread of fish farming was monitored. The use of local materials and tools for fish farming to ensure easy replicability was encouraged. This pamphlet is part of a series of three. They are designed to follow up on the earlier extension work and consolidate it. Though the pamphlets have been designed for use in Eastern Province, they can be adapted or modified for use elsewhere in Zambia, and in southern Africa. The sketches for this pamphlet were done by Mr C N Kanoso. Planning and design of the pamphlet and the text were organized by Mr J C Mutale, Mr H W van der Mheen and Ms J van der Mheen Sluijer. ALCOM is a regional FAO aquaculture programme which covers countries that belong to SADCC (Southern African Development Coordination Conference) -- Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The programme is funded by SIDA (Swedish International Development Authority) and executed by FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). |
| Published by ALCOM, P O Box 3730, Harare. Tel: 724985, 734797. Telex: 26040 FAO ZW. Fax: 263-4-729563. |
Once the pond is full of fish, you must take care of your fish pond.
Samalani bwino zibe lanu lansomba, muta shangamo nsomba zanu.
Be sure the pond is always full of water.
Onani kuti mwazaza chitsime chanu ndi madzi.
If there is not enough water in the pond, open the ditch and let in some more water.
Ngati chitsime chanu ndichotsazala, bvulani m'gelo olowetsa madzi kuti chitsime chizale.
When the pond is filled again, close the ditch.
Ngati chitsime chazala, bvalani m'gelo olowetsa madzi.
Check if both your screens are in place, so that your fish cannot get away.
Onani kuti m'gelo ndiobvala bwino kuti nsomba zinga choke.
To stop other people from taking fish from your pond, you can put some branches on the pond bottom. This will stop them from angling or taking fish with a net.
Pofuna kuletsa anthu kuba nsomba m'chitsime chanu, ikani misamba ya m'tengo m'kati mwa chitsime. Ichi chithandiza kuletsa zipangizo zogwilila nsomba (kombe).
Do not let too many weeds grow in your pond. If there are too many, pull them up.
Msalole maudzu ambili kumela m'chitsime chanu, m'chotse maudzu ena ngati mwaona kuti achuluka.
Weeds in your fish pond is like weeds in a maize field. As weeds in a maize field reduce the maize production, weeds in your pond will reduce your harvest of fish.
Maudzu m'chitsime chanu ali ngati maudzu a m'munda wa chimanga kuchepetsa zokolola. Chimodzimodzi nsomba zimachepa ngati muli maudzu.
Cut the weeds and grass on the dikes and around the pond.
Plant new grass on the places where the first grass has disappeared, so the dikes will not be washed away by the rains.
Chotsani udzu m'mbali mwa chitsime pamwamba ndi m'nyansi mwa chitsime.
Byalani udzu wa bwino (ngati kapinga) kuti doti la pamwamba lingakokoloke ndi mvula.
Check if there is no water leaking through the dikes or around the overflow. If you find leaks, stop them by packing them with good clay soil.
Onani kuti kulibe mbali yo chotsa madzi, ngati madzi achoka sindilani kuti madzi aleke ku choka.
Try to get rid of otters, birds and frogs because they may eat or hurt your fish.
Yetsani kuthamangitsa achule ndi mabalame zomwe zingaononge nsomba zanu.
When you have harvested your fish and drained all of the water from your pond, you have to make a few preparations before you fill the pond again.
Ngati mwa chotsa nsomba ndi kuchotsa madzi m'chitsime, m'yenela kukonzamo m'kalibe kuikamo madzi.
You should clean the bottom of your pond.
Konzani m'chitsime mwanu.
Check if there are any cracks in the dikes and repair them. If necessary, cut the weeds and grass on the dikes and around the pond.
Ngati muli mang'elu ambili m'mbali mwa cipupa cha chitsime m'chotse udzu onse m'mbali.
If you had drained your pond by cutting the dike, then you should close it again.
Ngati madzi mwa chotsela ku m'gelo m'bvaletso m'gelo.
Make sure you have placed the screens for the inlet and overflow.
M'one kuti m'gelo olowetsa madzi ndi ponso paja po chokela madzi ngati chitsime cha zala pali sefela.
When you are finished, you can let the water into your pond and fertilize the water with compost as you did before.
Ngati zonse mwatsiliza, mungaikemo madzi m'chitsime chanu ndikuikamo zinyalala monga m'dachitila poyamba.
