Mbeya District Council is scaling up efforts to promote fish farming, with more than 385 farmers now benefiting from the growing aquaculture sector, which is increasingly becoming a source of income and employment for local communities.
The council says it currently has 741 fish ponds spread across 21 of its 28 wards, with farmers mainly producing tilapia and catfish as demand for fish continues to grow.
Speaking during the ongoing Nanenane Agricultural Exhibition at John Mwakangale Grounds in Mbeya, Mbeya District Executive Director Erica Yegella said the council has prioritised training and extension services to help farmers improve production and adopt modern fish farming techniques.
“Mbeya District Council has more than 385 fish farmers managing 741 fish ponds across 21 wards. We are continuing to provide technical support through extension and fisheries officers to ensure more residents benefit from aquaculture,” she said.
Yegella said the council is working to expand fish farming to areas where the activity is still limited by increasing awareness and providing farmers with the knowledge needed to establish productive fish ponds.
She added that the district is also encouraging residents to invest in egg-duck farming, which she described as another promising opportunity for improving household incomes.
“Many people are familiar with keeping laying chickens, but there are successful duck egg farmers in Utengule Usongwe Ward. A duck can lay more than 100 eggs a year, showing the potential of this activity as an alternative source of income,” she said.
The Nanenane exhibition has provided farmers with an opportunity to learn about improved agricultural technologies, quality seeds, livestock management practices and ways of increasing productivity.
Mbeya District Council Chairperson Aida Haule said the success of many exhibitors reflects the impact of the council’s 10 per cent loans programme, which has supported entrepreneurs involved in various economic activities.
“Fish farmers, vegetable producers, beekeepers and seed producers participating in this exhibition include beneficiaries of the council’s loans. Their progress shows that investment in citizens’ economic activities is producing results,” she said.
Haule said the council would continue investing in vegetable production by establishing demonstration farms where farmers can learn better production methods and improve their earnings.
“Mbeya has great agricultural potential. By focusing on high-value crops and increasing production, we can strengthen local markets and create opportunities for wider trade,” she said.
For residents visiting the Nanenane exhibition, the event has become a platform for gaining practical knowledge.
Lucy Adam, one of the visitors, said she had learned new approaches to vegetable farming using sacks and other modern methods, as well as improved fish farming techniques that could help increase production.
The growth of aquaculture in Mbeya reflects efforts to diversify rural livelihoods, strengthen food security and create more income opportunities for farmers through modern agricultural practices.
