Aquaculture and aquafeed in Rwanda: current status and perspectives

ABSTRACT

A survey was conducted to obtain up-to-date information and create a knowledge base on pond fish farming, local feed ingredients, and their nutritive properties in Rwanda. Sixty-seven pond-farms were randomly sampled from a population of 112 countrywide. Semi-intensive was the dominant (81%) farming-system and three fish species were cultured: Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), and North African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Tilapia was the most commonly farmed species, and >50% of pond-farms were located in Northern and Southern provinces. There were 1–3 hatcheries per province, all producing tilapia. In total, 31 feed ingredients were identified, with rice, wheat, and maize bran being most commonly used. Feed analysis revealed high protein content (>350 g kg⁻¹ CP) in local fishmeal, chicken viscera, and spent brewer’s yeast. Local ingredients and potential novel-feeds need further investigation prior to their confident use in fish diets to improve aquaculture at a low-cost in Rwanda.

KEYWORDS:

• Fish farming
• pond-aquaculture
• local feed ingredients
• semi-intensive farming system
• survey
• Rwanda

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express sincere thanks to the Rwanda’s local government officials in provinces, district offices countrywide for the permit offered and support during the present study. A special thanks is expressed to the laboratory technicians in the UR-FFRS at Rwasave, and Busogo campus in the College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine/ University of Rwanda for their valuable help during samples handling and proximate analysis. This study was financially supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) through the UR-Sweden programme for Research, Higher Education, and Institutional Advancement, more specially the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). We are very grateful for their scientific guidance as well as the finances allocated to this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The current study was financially supported by the Swedish international Development Cooperation Agency, SIDA, No 51160027-01.