TAAT drives aquaculture transformation in DRC with new technologies, training

DRC – Efforts to boost fish production in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), are gaining momentum thanks to a partnership between the African Development Bank (AfDB) and WorldFish. 

As part of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) aquaculture program, fish farmers and national aquaculture service professionals in the region recently completed a series of training sessions focused on improving aquaculture technologies and practices. The sessions were held between September 4 and 17, 2024.

The TAAT aquaculture program, launched in 2018 by AfDB, is an ambitious initiative designed to double the productivity of crops, livestock, and fish across Africa by 2025. 

Its goal is to equip over 40 million smallholder farmers with the tools and knowledge necessary to increase food production, aiming to produce an additional 120 million metric tons of food and lift 130 million people out of poverty.

Central to the program’s approach is a “twin strategy,” which focuses on delivering productivity-enhancing technologies at scale and creating an enabling environment through supportive policies and regulations. 

This holistic model ensures that farmers gain access to the tools they need and use them effectively in a favourable economic and regulatory climate.

In South Kivu, the TAAT program organised a series of Training of Trainers (ToT) workshops to build expertise among fish farmers and service providers in critical aquaculture value chains. 

These sessions, conducted in collaboration with WorldFish and IITA (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture), covered key areas such as catfish and tilapia fingerling production, fish feed production, and post-harvest processing techniques. 

The aim was to assess the current state of fish farming in the region, including identifying challenges and opportunities for growth.

Participants, who included fish farmers and representatives from the national aquaculture service, engaged in practical training sessions designed to improve their skills in hatchery management, seed production, and fish feed creation. 

By addressing the needs of the local aquaculture sector, the program hopes to enhance productivity through the production of quality tilapia and catfish seeds and low-cost, nutrient-rich fish feed.

Workshops also emphasised value addition in the aquaculture sector, with training on post-harvest techniques and market linkage campaigns.

By empowering farmers to process and market their fish products more effectively, the TAAT program aims to increase production and profitability in the sector.

The program’s broad impact is reflected in the collaborative efforts of AfDB, WorldFish, and local partners to accelerate the dissemination of aquaculture technologies.

Through these initiatives, the TAAT program is helping to strengthen the aquaculture value chain in the DRC while contributing to the broader goal of increasing food security and alleviating poverty across the continent.

As the TAAT program continues to roll out its transformative agenda, the future of aquaculture in South Kivu and beyond looks promising, with empowered farmers equipped to drive the sector forward.

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