Story by Fairstars Mukungurutse
THE Presidential Fisheries Programme is transforming rural livelihoods and creating sustainable income opportunities across communities, as Government intensifies efforts to advance food security and rural industrialisation under Vision 2030.
Ward 24 in Manica Bridge has emerged as a model of community empowerment, with beneficiaries of the Presidential Fisheries Scheme recording improved incomes, enhanced food production and increased economic activity through integrated fish farming projects.
Following training programmes on fish pond management and sustainable aquaculture, beneficiaries, including youths, women, elderly residents and persons with disabilities, received fingerlings and feed supplies to establish fish production initiatives.
Beneficiary Mr Nyasha Karingamupembe said the programme had equipped communities with practical knowledge and resources to sustain fish farming projects.
“When the Presidential Fisheries Programme was launched here in Manicaland Province, we received fingerlings and starter stocks, then we went on to construct fish ponds. We were also privileged to undergo a comprehensive training programme for fish farming, and I am glad to say that we now have the knowledge on how to farm fish sustainably,” he said.
The project has also stimulated complementary income-generating activities within households and communities.
“This is an awesome project because it has managed to boost some additional projects for us. We are also into chicken rearing, and we take chicken droppings to feed the fish. The dirty water we remove is nutrient-rich and is excellent fertiliser for the garden. We are now growing vegetables and bananas for consumption, and we also sell them,” beneficiary Latest Takawira said.
Authorities say the initiative, which is set to be rolled out across all provinces, is designed to strengthen household food security while creating reliable income streams for rural communities.
Leader of Johane, the 5th of Africa International Church, Dr Andby Makururu, said the church had embraced the programme as part of broader efforts to improve livelihoods and support national development initiatives.
“President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa always reminds us that the nation is built by its own citizens. As Johane, the 5th of Africa Church, we saw it fit to embrace the fisheries programme, which he introduced as part of efforts to boost food security.
“We are planning to implement this project at a national level by establishing 10 fish ponds per province so that our congregants and their communities of origin benefit financially and food-wise. We will continue to support Government-led initiatives to improve livelihoods,” he said.
During the commissioning of Artificial Intelligence-powered grain silos in Kwekwe, President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa reaffirmed Government’s commitment to strengthening national food sovereignty and rural transformation programmes.
“The impacts of climate change have heightened the need for robust and holistic food security initiatives as well as sustainable food supply and nutrition measures. Cognisant of this fact, my Government in 2020 launched the Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy towards guaranteeing food and nutrition security.
“The improvement of livelihoods and contribution to overall economic development are also at the core of this strategy. On its part, my Administration will reliably strengthen its role to safeguard food security and a stable agriculture sector,” he said.
With capacity to support more than 40 000 fish, the fisheries initiative is emerging as a practical model for rural industrialisation and sustainable community development under the National Development Strategy 2.
