Aquaculture development and growth in Africa have been on low ebb despite the vast aquatic resources
that abounds on the continent. Since the introduction of aquaculture to Africa, some decades ago, there
have been a lot of innovations, technological advancement and progress in the areas of genetics, seed
propagation, pond construction and farm management in general. Despite breakthroughs recorded in
these areas most farmers in Africa still rely heavily on imported feed ingredients and fish feeds from
European countries, which makes fish farming expensive as fish feed account for at least 60% of the
total cost of production. This has contributed in no small measure to the slow pace at which aquaculture
is advancing in Africa. This article, however reviewed critically the potentials of locally manufactured
fish feed in enhancing, improving and sustaining aquaculture development in Africa. Various
methods of processing employed were discussed and suggestions were made on how aquaculture
growth can reach its maximum potential in the production of fish through utilization of locally available
fish feed ingredients.
Key words: Aquaculture, fish feed, local production, sub-Saharan Africa
INTRODUCTION
Fish is an important source of both food and income to
many people in developing countries. In Africa, as much
as 5% of the population, some 35 million people depends
wholly or partly on the fisheries sector for their livelihood
(FAO, 1996a). It is estimated that by 2050, when world
population is projected to be over 9 billion, Africa will
have to increase food production by 300%, Latin America
by 80% and Asia 70% to provide minimally adequate
diets for the projected population of 2 billion, 810 million
and 5.4 billion people in the respective regions (Anon,
1997).
The consumption and demand for fish as a cheap source
of protein is on the increase in Africa, because of the
level of poverty in the land. The vast majority of the fish
*Corresponding author. E-mail: ugwemg@yahoo.com.
supply in most cases comes from the rivers in the continent.
While capture fisheries based on species that are
presently exploited seem to have reached their natural
limits (FAO, 1996c), there is considerable potential to
expand aquaculture in Africa in order to improve food
security (Kapetsy, 1994; Engle 1997, Jamu and Ayinla,
2003). Although potentials abound in the continent for the
development of viable fish farming, one of the major hindrances
to the development of aquaculture industry in
Africa is the lack of locally produced high-quality fish
feed. Fish requires high quality nutritionally balanced diet
for growth and attainment of market size within the
shortest possible time. Therefore local production of fish
feed is very crucial to the development and sustainability
of aquaculture in Africa especially, in the rural areas. For
aquaculture to thrive and bridge the already existing wide
gap between fish demand and supply especially in the
Sub-Saharan Africa, the vital role of locally produced fish
feed in reducing production cost, thereby making fish far288
Afr. J. Agric. Res.
Table 1. Regional share of aquaculture production.
Region % World production
Asia 91.22
Europe 4.02
South America 1.96
North America 1.60
Africa 0.97
Source: FAO (2003)
ming attractive to both private and commercial investors
and ultimately boost fish production cannot be overemphasized.
This paper looks at the importance of locally
produced fish feed in enhancing the development, growth
and expansion of aquaculture in Africa.
AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
Aquaculture development in Africa is insignificant compared
to the rest of the world (Changadeya et al., 2003).
According to Hetcht (2000) the entire continent contributed
only 0.4% to the total world aquaculture production
for the period 1994 to 1995. In the year 2000 it contributed
a mere 0.97% of the total global aquaculture (FAO,
2003, Table 1).
Although the history of aquaculture is relatively recent
in Sub-Saharan Africa compared to Asia, and some other
parts of the world most known aquaculture systems have
been introduced over the last 35 years (FAO, 1996a;
1996b). The growth, expansion and production of aquaculture
in northern part of Africa especially, Egypt is more
advanced in techniques and technicalities in comparison
to the Sub Saharan regions (Table 2).
In Sub-Saharan regions aquaculture in most places is
still essentially a rural, secondary and part-time activity
taking place in small farms with small fresh water ponds
(FAO 1996a). The systems that are generally practiced
range from extensive to semi-intensive cultural systems
with limited fish yield, which are mostly consumed directly
or sold locally (CIFA 1998). Almost all fish farming is carried
out by rural small scale operators in small fresh water
ponds as a secondary activity to agriculture. Although
there is abundant potential for the development and expansion
of aquaculture in this region, factors such as the
novelty of aquaculture, the general poor economic conditions
in many countries and the relative paucity of entrepreneurial
skills and credit facilities hamper its development
(FAO, 1997). Aquaculture development in most African
countries is primarily focused on socio-economic objectives
such as nutrition improvement in rural areas,
income generation, diversification of farm activities (integrated
farming) and creation of employment especially in
rural communities where opportunities for aquaculture in
northern part of Africa especially, Egypt is economic activities
are limited (CIFA, 1998). This approach over the
years has resulted in sustained aquaculture growth in
some African countries such as Coté D’ivoire, Egypt,
Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria and Zambia (Jamu and Ayinla,
2003). While there is still room for enhancing aquaculture
production in Africa through improved production systems,
genetics and general farm management principles,
the desired and expected growth of aquaculture to meet
the ever increasing demand for fish and satisfy its socioeconomic
functions is only achievable through cost-effective
and high quality fish feed.
Aquaculture and food security
Nutritionally, fish is one of the cheapest and direct sources
of protein and micro nutrient for millions of people in
Africa (Bene and Heck, 2005). With steady decline in
capture fisheries, aquaculture is a readily, veritable tool in
the provision of fish eaten all over the continent. Unlike
some other animal products, fish is widely acceptable. Its
acceptability cut across social, cultural and religious backgrounds.
The United Nations predicted a population of
1188 million in Africa (medium variation) by 2010 (Muir et
al., 2005). To maintain food fish consumption at the present
level of 5 to 45 kg per person per year depending on
the country, (Table 3 and 4) supplies of fish must increase
tremendously.
However, with the current supply trends combined with
ever increasing population, the per capita consumption of
fish in Africa is stagnating and in Sub-Saharan Africa has
fallen drastically (Muir et al., 2005). To arrest this deployrable
condition and boost production of fish aquaculture
remains the only feasible option that can sustain adequate
fish supply in Africa.
Fish feed development
Fish feed technology is one of the least developed
sectors of aquaculture particularly in Africa and other
developing countries of the world (FAO, 2003). Feed is
one of the major inputs in aquaculture production. It is
one of the fundamental challenges facing the development
and growth of aquaculture in the African continent.
Fish feed development in Sub-Saharan Africa has not
made a significant progress in aquaculture as expected.
According to Hecht (2000), it is observed that the research
on inexpensive feed ingredients has not contributed
greatly to aquaculture development in Africa and suggested
that more research on how best plant protein can
be used as fish feed is required. Development and management
of fish feed, play very vital role in aquaculture
growth and expansion. Infact, it is a major factor that
determines the profitability of aquaculture venture. Jamu
and Ayinla (2003) reported that feed accounts for at least
60% of the total cost of fish production in Africa, which to
a large extent determines the viability and profitability of
fish farming enterprise. As aquaculture becomes intensive,
most farmers in Africa depend largely on imported
