Aquaculture is one of the major sectors in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The strategic action plan for the development of the aquaculture value chain 2024-2028, proposed by the Presidential Advisory Council of the National Pact for Agriculture and Food (CCP-PNAA) to the Congolese government, states that fishing and aquaculture contribute 12% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
According to the results of several studies, the DRC alone contains almost 52% of the waters on the African continent, offering favorable conditions for fishing and aquaculture. Also, with an almost balanced geo-distribution of water resources across the national territory from west to east, the DRC should satisfy its internal demand for fish and serve as the fish market of the African continent. However, local production remains very low compared with the continental average, estimated at 9kg per capita. The domestic market is dominated by imported products, mainly from Namibia, Tanzania and currently China.
To help strengthen the aquaculture value chain in the DRC and reduce dependence on fish imports, the Youth Brigade of the African Agricultural Leadership Institute (AYB) is promoting advanced technologies to maximize aquaculture production and productivity in South Kivu province. The AYB uses floating cages installed on Lake Kivu, in Kalambo, and fishponds in the Nyangezi Agribusiness Park, to increase local production, while also offering training in modern fry and fish production techniques to young entrepreneurs and breeders. For the first production run, the YB has harvested around 10 tonnes of fish for the market in and around the town of Bukavu. This action is part of the “Agenda de la Transformation Agricole de la RDC” (ATA-RDC), an initiative launched by President Félix Tshisekedi Tshilombo to modernize and revitalize the country’s agropastoral and fisheries sector.
Mr. Élie Mapenzi Matabaro, technician in charge of animal and fish production at the YB, explained: “We have deployed fast-growing single-sex Tilapia fry and specially manufactured floating feed to improve yields. This approach will lead to an impressive harvest of 10 tonnes of fish, with fish weighing between 0.5kg to 1 kg.
The use of floating cages optimizes the use of aquatic space and promotes greater productivity. Fishponds bring the efficiency of modern techniques to a more traditional setting.