Government Supports Communities to Be Self-SuffiCient
With the ever increasing global population, the task of feeding people is also intensifying and consequently compelling countries to explore more opportunities, and governments to support communities to be selfsufficient.
The year 2020 has proven to be extremely challenging with the world trying to grapple and cushion the effects of COVID-19.
Fiji is not spared and faces the same plight as everyone else. To help manage and overcome this new challenge, the Fijian Government continues to consolidate its efforts towards supporting communities to be resilient and successful. Individuals, groups and communities around the country are being encouraged and assisted to sustainably use the natural resources that they have access to provide food and income security.
Tilapia Farming
Retired civil servant, 67-year old Manasa Nasilivata is one of the recipients of such assistance through the I-Taukei Land Trust Board’s Seed Fund Grant Assistance. Through his wife, who is a member of the landowning unit in Kasavu, Naitasiri, they were granted assistance and worked on reviving their tilapia farming business. Manasa says that the assistance could not have come at a better time as he was trying his best to provide for his growing family.
“I had retired in 2009 and from what I had seen and learnt whilst working at the Naduruloulou Research Station, my wife and I decided that we should venture into tilapia farming,” explained Manasa. “We operated for a couple of years only and through hardships that we encountered, our ponds became dormant and I resorted to other means of earning.”
TC Winston in 2016 dashed all hopes of ever reviving their tilapia ponds though at the back of his mind, Manasa knew that he should not give up.
Through community visits and awareness programmes by the Ministry of Fisheries, Manasa knew that he had to do something about his dormant farm to get it running again.
“With the Seed Fund Grant Assistance, we managed to carry out pond construction works again and purchase the items needed for water supply into the three ponds.” “I was very fortunate that I had continued to seek advice from the Ministry of Fisheries and their support towards the revival of my farm has been tremendous,” smiled Manasa.
Through regular farm visits and advice from the technical aquaculture officers, Manasa has been able to grow his knowledge and interest in tilapia farming.
“My grandchildren also take turns in feeding the tilapia and it is a form of education for them as well,” he said .
He adds that tilapia farming is not as labour intensive as agricultural farming and is quite suitable for retirees.
Manasa harvested his first batch in October this year which he sold at $8 per kilogramme.
“I was overwhelmed at the response from the buyers and it has also given me more motivation to work harder and grow my farm,” he said proudly.
Assistance
The assistance, like others offered through various Government ministries, enables natural resourcebased communities to become more educated and able to participate in contributing positively towards the national economy whether it be through farming ventures or even small business projects.
Principal Fisheries Officer Aquaculture Mr Jone Varawa says that the interest from landowning units to venture into tilapia farming has increased this year.
“This is a good indication to us as the Ministry of Fisheries is trying to grow the interest in aquaculture,” explained Mr Varawa.
The Ministry of Fisheries is also investing in research to ensure that aquaculture farmers are supported in managing their farms in the most efficient and productive way possible. A strong research and development support is crucial to enticing more interests to grow the aquaculture sector.
Tilapia fry production
The Ministry also has plans to increase tilapia fry production to two million annually with the injection
of new and innovative technology and resetting the new production plan in both the freshwater hatcheries situated at Caboni in Ba and Naduruloulou in Nasinu.
The increase in the budgetary provision for this fiscal year indicates Government’s continued commitment which gives a lot of hope to Fijians who have shown keen interest in this fishery.
The increase in fry production will be able to cater to the demand from existing and new farmers.
Government is adamant on working towards a sustainable blue economy and aquaculture will play a critical role in achieving this vision.
Tilapia is now the third most important fish in aquaculture, providing around 1.5 million metric tonnes per year on a global scale. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, aquaculture represents a much needed alternative to open sea fishing in a world of ever depleting ocean resources. Worldwide, over 500 species are raised via aquaculture, amounting to nearly 112 tonnes, up 3.5 per cent year on year, reaching a value of USD$250 billion.
It was also noted by FAO that aquaculture outstrips wild harvests of all major species groups- accounting for 97 percent of seaweeds, 81 percent of freshwater fish, 55 percent of crustaceans, 73 percent of molluscs - other than marine finfish, of which only 4.5 percent are currently from farmed sources.
The FAO projects that aquaculture will continue to play an important role in meeting the needs for fish and fish products for an ever increasing human population.