Why Aquaculture Trials Have Not Been Successful in Tanzania? 111production (other than seaweed) has only risen from 630 tonnes in 2002 to
3472 tonnes in 2013 (FAO Statistics) so that the potential is still largely
untapped.
Despite such potential and the past government efforts to assist the
farmers, aquaculture has not registered remarkable growth as productivity has
continued to be very low (URT, 2009). Lack of skilled manpower, inadequate
and lack of quality seeds and feeds supply, employment of outdated
technology and inadequate extension services have contributed substantially to
the slow development of aquaculture in the country (ibid.).
History of Aquaculture in Tanzania
Aquaculture in mainland Tanzania is believed to have started in 1927 in
the form of sport fishing, with fish stocked into rivers around Mount
Kilimanjaro and the Mbeya region (Balarin, 1985). Pond fish culture started in
the early 1950s with the establishment of experimental ponds in Korogwe and
Malya, located in Tanga and Mwanza regions respectively. The government
provided fingerlings, technical and financial assistance to the farmers. By
1960s Tanzania had some 10,000 ponds with a surface of 1,000 ha. However,
due to poor technology and management, government’s failure to produce and
supply quantity and quality fingerlings and unsustainable extension approach,
many of the ponds were abandoned. After independence in 1961, the
government established regional centers to breed fingerlings and promote
extension in most suitable sites. To support the above efforts and realizing the
importance of fisheries sector, the Department of Fisheries (DFs) was formed
in 1964 with fisheries offices located in all regions, districts, to the village
level. During the first and second Five-year National Development Plans
(1964-74)’ however, priority was given to the development of fisheries over
aquaculture (Balarin, 1985). Moreover, due to lack of funds, manpower and
political will, the regional centers failed to produce and distribute fingerlings
to the scattered farmers. More important, since the aim of aquaculture trials
were to improve the welfare of the poor community, the government had to
provide assistance in cash and/or kind for free. However, this system could not
be sustained and most of the projects failed.
In the 70s and 80s Tanzania witnessed numerous aquaculture development
projects which were donor supported. The same approach of project
promotion, provision of support for free and targetting the poor community as
before was adopted. The aquaculture production remained low (Table 1).